Understanding Ignorance in Disability and Fitness Spaces

“Not Everyone Has Read the Same Books as You”

Chris Cooper, author of Help First, once shared a powerful reminder:

“Not everyone has read the same books as you.”

He described a moment in a gym where someone barefoot ran across the floor, prompting snide remarks from other gym-goers. Instead of joining in, he asked her why. Turns out, she was simply new to the gym and unaware of the etiquette. Once it was explained, she understood and adjusted—no resistance, no attitude.

That’s the power of assuming ignorance over intent—and not ignorance in a rude sense—just a lack of exposure, experience, or understanding.

We all hold different pieces of the puzzle. Understanding requires putting them together.

We all hold different pieces of the puzzle. Understanding requires putting them together.

What Is Ignorance, Really?

When we hear the word ignorance, we often associate it with stubbornness or disrespect. But at its core, ignorance just means “not knowing.” And we all live in different learning environments, cultural bubbles, industries, and life experiences. What’s considered “common sense” in one group might be entirely foreign to another.

Take fitness, for example:A beach-goer’s understanding of “fitness” might involve freedom, movement, and barefoot workouts. That same barefoot behaviour in a gym might be considered unsafe or inappropriate—but only because of different contexts.

The Disability Industry and Misunderstood Risk

This idea of understanding ignorance in disability and fitness came up in a recent Teams meeting I attended through the Gold Coast Recreation and Sport’s Active Inclusion Program.

As one of the speakers said—people often don’t act out of malice, but from a lack of understanding. That idea really stuck with me, and it felt like enough of a thought bubble to turn into a blog post.

It’s the kindest and truest way to describe so many of the barriers we encounter—and it reflects what I’ve seen firsthand in this work.

Therese from Collaborative Culture shared a powerful resource during the session—Pass It to Me—which is all about making inclusive communication easier through creativity and collaboration. It’s a great example of how we can turn ignorance into insight when we have the right tools and mindset.

There are things I want to do for my participants that would be incredible—activities that bring joy, confidence, and growth. But insurance has often been a major barrier. I’ve had brokers laugh at the idea of insuring some of the programs I’ve tried to offer. One even gave me a quote so ridiculous it felt like a tactic just to shut the conversation down.

Why?

The only real reason I could find was... disability.

Not the actual risk.

Not the injury data.

Just the word disability.

(Though possibly—I just haven’t read the same books as them?!)

Misconceptions and Fear

I believe a lot of the resistance still stems from outdated and narrow views—images conjured by the word “disability” that don’t match the reality. Many of the individuals I work with are actually risk-averse. They’re careful. They don’t push past what feels safe.

But the real risk?

It’s being shut out before even getting a chance.

This is ignorance in action—not in a malicious way, but in the way that comes from deeply ingrained ideas that haven’t been updated.

It wasn’t that long ago that people with disability were hidden away from society or institutionalised. The idea that they’d be out running around, participating in mainstream sport, exploring their independence, or doing something bold or adventurous—that’s relatively new in the public eye.

And while we’ve come a long way—there’s more acceptance, more representation, and more people with good intentions—there’s still a gap.

A misunderstanding.A lack of exposure.A lack of practical knowledge.

Not everyone has had the chance to see what inclusion looks like in action, and so for some, it still feels “too risky,” “too hard,” or “not for them.”

But every time we include someone in something they were once excluded from, we help rewrite that outdated story.

What Can We Do?

Lead With Questions, Not Assumptions

Instead of judging a barefoot gym-goer, ask why.

Instead of assuming a program is too risky, ask what supports are in place.

Educate With Empathy

Share stories. Make the invisible visible. The more we talk about the real lives of people with disabilities, not stereotypes, the more accurate the picture becomes.

Building Bridges: Understanding Ignorance in Disability and Fitness

Fitness, disability support, education, and policy often sit in their own worlds—but what if we reached beyond those circles?

Sometimes the greatest insights come from people outside our industry. A parent. A gym owner. A support worker. Even someone brand new to the space. When we make room for open dialogue across roles, industries, and experiences, we start understanding ignorance in disability and fitness as something that can shift, not by correcting others, but by inviting them in.

Maybe the real work is in creating spaces for shared learning.

Could we host more inclusive conversations?

What would it look like to co-design programs with people who’ve never worked in disability before?

How do we make it easier for someone outside our world to ask questions without fear of “getting it wrong”?

We don’t need to have all the answers—just the willingness to ask better questions, together.

Speak Up and Share the Wins

When something works—share it.

When a participant thrives—celebrate it.

Real stories shift understanding more than policies ever could.

Moving Forward Together

We don’t know what we don’t know.

But we can choose how we respond when we realise we don’t know something.

Inclusion starts with humility.

Real change starts when we trade judgment for curiosity.

And understanding ignorance—not shaming it—is how we build something better.

If this blog resonates with you—whether you're a participant, provider, or just someone trying to understand—share it. Let’s widen the circle of what’s “common knowledge” and build spaces where everyone belongs. If you found this helpful, you might also enjoy some of the other reflections on our blog—where we explore inclusion, confidence-building, and the deeper “why” behind what we do at Slim Gym.