Alabama creates fitness center for deaf, blind people

From The Press-Register:

MOBILE, Ala. -- At first glance, the room with women exercising on stationary bikes and treadmills looks like any gym around Mobile.

The new fitness center, designed especially for deaf and blind adults, is located in the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind at 1050 Government St.

“We are excited about it,” said Michelle Jones, AIDB regional director. “We feel it will certainly benefit the ‘whole person’ approach. Our whole philosophy is for people who are vision impaired and hearing impaired to have the quality of life we all enjoy.”

Patrice Hall, case manager for the blind and visually impaired at the facility, recognized the need for a fitness center in their building as she has worked to make a place where her clients feel comfortable and familiar.

Hall cited the case of Barbara Manuel, who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa. “She works and rides public transportation and she is very confident.” Many times, Manuel had expressed a desire for a place to work out, Hall said.

Once a blind person decides to be active and gain independence, “there is still a lot of fear and a lot of challenges they have to overcome,” Hall noted.

Transportation is always an issue, she said. Some have family members who help, but others rely on city transportation.

“There is still that fear once you get where you are going if it’s unfamiliar and unknown territory,” Hall said. “What we have always tried to do is figure out programs in this building that will at least get them out and get them active and socializing, doing things that benefit them.”

The school partners with Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, which holds training classes for clients on independent living several times a week.