Wesley Hamilton founded the Disabled But Not Really Foundation in 2015 to empower people with physical disabilities. With a focus on fitness, nutrition and mental health training, Hamilton aimed to help people with disabilities regain their confidence and identity after injury.
But after partnering with various fitness facilities, Hamilton realized that an outdoor gym wasn’t enough. “I realized that most facilities weren’t inclusive in terms of equipment, amenities, staff, or mentality,” says Hamilton, who has been paraplegic for more than a decade. “I still get the feeling, ‘Hey, you know what, we have all this equipment, and yet… [an] “That was an unnatural way to get into your door.”
So Hamilton decided to create his own fitness facility that was handicapped-accessible. It was a process that took time and thought. It wasn’t just the equipment Hamilton had to consider; he also had to create a fully accessible space, from entrances and restrooms to a location near bus routes.
This spring, the “Disabled But Not Really” fitness facility officially opened in Kansas City, Missouri. We decided to reach out to Hamilton to see what’s going on. Click on the audio player above to hear the full story.
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