New CASES Special Interest Disability Inclusion Group - call for interest

CASES is pleased to announce a new agreement with Accessercise Ltd, a UK-based fitness technology company that provides an app designed to improve fitness and sport accessibility for people with disabilities and impairments. 

The agreement includes a number of exciting opportunities, including:

• Joint production and dissemination of research findings
• Joint development of CPD Courses and Educational Materials
• Joint delivery of professional development events
• Collaboration on future expert statements / position stands, projects and campaigns
  

To support the above, CASES is seeking interest from members to form a new Special Interest Disability Inclusion Group, a special interest group focussing on adaptive sport and disability and bringing together researchers and advocates.

For the Board to approve a new Special Interest Group, the following minimal requirements outlined below must be met:

• Has a Chair, who is a Professional member of CASES (minimum five years)

• Has a Steering Group of between three and 10 individuals
• Has a Name and Mission Statement that is consistent with the aims and objectives of CASES
• Has a membership that includes no less than 20 CASES members.

Members interested in forming the new Special Interest Disability Inclusion Group are asked to complete this short form by 3 October 2025.

The new agreement will see Accessercise provide consultancy services to CASES focusing on disability, accessibility and inclusivity, including;

• Review of company materials
• Review company website
• Review accessibility provisions and gaps
• Support with specific knowledge in disability space, messaging etc
• Review employment procedures and opportunities for people/applicants with disabilities

In addition, Accessercise will provide premium subscriptions to the app, free of charge, for three months, to all CASES members. 

The app offers tailored exercise content, resource libraries, an exercise library, and a community hub to remove barriers such as lack of support, resources, and feelings of marginalisation. It also includes a rating system for accessible fitness facilities and training for personal trainers to better support disabled individuals. CASES will promote this offer to members, in due course, advising how to subscribe.

Commenting on the new agreement, Dr Kotryna Lewis MCASES, Chair of the CASES Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group, said, 

“While CASES has made significant strides in making sport sciences more disability inclusive, we know we haven’t done enough. We also know that our members have invaluable lived and research experience that we have not been able to fully build upon. We hope that both the new partnership with Accessercise and the formation of the Special Interest Disability Inclusion Group will help CASES – and its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Group – do better in this space.”

Sam Brearey, Accessercise Co-Founder, said, 

“With this new partnership, CASES has shown their commitment to inclusivity, leading the way in change for accessibility and equality in the sector. Accessercise is committed to action and delivering tangible benefits to the disabled community, it’s great to see CASES is also committed to delivering change and action. We’re excited to work closely with CASES and their members.”