Press Room

American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Lakeshore Foundation Partner to Advance Inclusive Fitness Education

Posted: Aug 07, 2024 in ACE Press Releases

San Diego, Cailf., August 7, 2024 — The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is proud to announce a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lakeshore Foundation, a recognized leader in promoting healthy, active lifestyles for individuals with physical disabilities.

Under this MOU, ACE and the Lakeshore Foundation will collaborate to develop and disseminate educational content and resources that focus on inclusive fitness. This content will provide exercise professionals and health coaches with essential skills and insights to support individuals with diverse abilities, ensuring everyone has access to safe, effective, and inclusive physical activity options.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Lakeshore Foundation, an organization that shares our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable fitness industry," said Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, FACSM, president and chief executive officer of ACE. "This MOU represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower exercise professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to make fitness accessible to all, regardless of ability status."

This strategic collaboration aims to better educate and equip exercise professionals and health coaches with the practical knowledge necessary to work effectively with people of all ability statuses.

Amy Rauworth, chief research and innovation, stated, "By working together with ACE, we can make a substantial impact on the fitness community. Our combined efforts will help ensure that exercise professionals are well-equipped to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and improving overall health outcomes."

 

This partnership supports the larger ACE Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiative. ACE is dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity within the fitness industry by providing ongoing education and resources that address equity and diversity. The collaboration with the Lakeshore Foundation aligns perfectly with this initiative, reinforcing ACE’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals feel welcome and supported in their fitness journeys.

 

About the American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Since 1985, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has been the leading non-profit education and certification provider for health coaches and exercise professionals in the United States and around the world. 

With more than 90,000 highly respected certified health coaches and exercise professionals, ACE Certified Professionals are on the ground daily helping people move, stay active and make lasting lifestyle behavior changes to build healthier communities.

Headquartered in San Diego, ACE collaborates with public health partners to educate people of all backgrounds about the importance of physical activity and other healthy lifestyle behaviors; advocates for public policies to increase physical activity opportunities; and supports scientific research that investigates the efficacy of behavior-change interventions and the effectiveness of exercise practices and trends. Learn more at www.acefitness.org.

About the Lakeshore Foundation

Lakeshore Foundation, a Birmingham, Alabama nonprofit organization has emerged as a world leader in health promotion, research, fitness, recreation, sports advocacy for people with a disability, veterans, seniors and parasport activities. As a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, Lakeshore serves as the National Governing Body for USA Wheelchair Rugby and Boccia United States. Lakeshore is also home to the state-of-the-art Lakeshore Sports Science and Performance Center. For more information on Lakeshore Foundation, visit www.lakeshore.org/sspc.