IN PICTURES: Wheelchair accessible gym opens in Laois

The first wheelchair accessible gym in Laois has officially opened for business.

Equipped with a rowing machine, motorped, easy stand glider, handcycling and weight machines, the gym is at the Irish Wheelchair Association's Laois base in St Fintan's Hospital. It has been hailed as "an outstanding achievement and a fantastic new addition, not only to Laois but surrounding counties". More below photos.

The gym is open five days per week for users from as far as Tipperary.

It is much more than just as a bunch of weights, says Tommy White, a service user in the IWA Portlaoise.

“The gym is more than just a gym, it is a place where we can comfortably transfer from our wheelchairs amongst peers without feeling different”.

Laois Sports Partnership and The IWA Portlaoise proudly opened the new accessible gym in May and look forward to supporting users for many years to come.

Caroline Myers is Chief Operating Officer/Co-ordinator with LSP.

“Not only will this be a fantastic facility for the service users but the wider community which is what inclusion is all about. It will assist in increasing awareness of stigmas whilst breaking down barriers for people with disabilities to live active and healthy lives within an inclusive environment for physical and mental rehabilitation and participation.”

The new equipment adds to other inclusive physical activity equipment purchased by Laois Sports Partnership.

In 2022, three accessible bikes were purchased; a motor assisted bike, a tandem bike, and a tricycle. These have been described as a massive success and are regularly used along the Blueway in Vicarstown, allowing people of all abilities to take part in a cycle.

On opening day, Adam Somers of Active Disability Ireland presented the IWA Gym with six bags of Active Hands Kits.

The gripping aids are ideal for tetraplegic/quadriplegics, those with Cerebral Palsy, stroke recovery or any disability that affects hand function.

The need was identified by Laois Sports Partnership disability officer Catriona Slattery in partnership with Sylvia Rouget and the service users in the IWA.

The service users has suggesting getting their own gym equipment after attending a training course in the Laois GAA Centre of Excellence Gym.

“It goes to show what can be achieved in a short amount of time. Less than 6 months after been funded we are here today to launch this accessible gym creating a sports and physical activity hub for all service users and people with disabilities in Laois supported by the IWA who are the host site.” Caroline Myers, Laois Sports Partnership.

The six additions to the gym are; a rowing machine, a motorped, an easy stand glider, a handcycling machine, a multipurpose weight machine and 2 sets of dumbbell free weights ranging from 1kg – 10kg.

All will provide the users with the necessary tools to complete a full body workout, however one piece stands out as being particularly impressive, the easy stand glider.

This piece of equipment allows wheelchair users to be placed in a standing position. Users sit into the equipment like a chair and with the press of a button are elevated into a standing position. Once in a standing position, the machine resembles a cross trainer.

The user then uses their arms to propel their legs as you would on a traditional cross trainer. This provides them with an endless number of benefits. As well as completing an upper body workout, by using the glider, they improve circulation and blood flow to their lower body. They experience improved breathing as in an upright position, lungs can fully expand and reduce stress on internal organs.

Paul Cullen is a service user of IWA Portlaoise and a member of Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club.

“Being able to use the easy stand glider is a massive benefit for wheelchair user. It improves our bone density, our lung capacity, our bowels and our joints,” he said.

Speakers at the opening included Sylvia Rouget Co-ordinator IWA Portlaoise, Caroline Myers Head of Sport, Laois Sports Partnership, Paul Cullen and Tommy White, both IWA Service Users.

There were demonstrations of other activities at the gym such as Table Tennis, Scooch and Boccia.

Donal Brennan, Director of Services in Laois County Council took on off the IWA members in a game of wheelchair table tennis.

Ms Rouget outlined the importance of working in partnership with local agencies.

“This facility has also widened the range of service users coming through our doors from near and far and from other services. This is what inclusion is all about. Working in isolation is not conducive to inclusion, we should all open the doors to our services and share not only our facilities but our expertise, learning, time and efforts. It is easier all around, it saves money, it
saves time and it leads to better outcomes. None of what we do would be possible without the partnerships we have with the LOETB, County Council, HSE, Laois Partnership and of course, Laois Sports Partnership, all of which have showed huge commitments to meeting the needs of our members and consulting with them on an ongoing basis,” she said.

The IWA Portlaoise Accessible Gym was funded by Sport Ireland Dormant Account Capital Project. For more information regarding the new accessible gym, contact Sylvia (Co-ordinator, IWA Portlaoise) by email, sylvia.rouget@iwa.ie.