Hi, my name is Dale Robertson and I am the owner and founder of DR Inclusive Fitness and Wellbeing, Scotland’s first dedicated gym for disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

The foundations for DR Inclusive Fitness started over 20 years ago during a primary school tennis session when I was studying sports coaching. There was a young wheelchair user who had not been taking part in previous sessions; my first thought was why not? After getting her involved in the session, it quickly became apparent that she could hold a tennis racket, and she could hit a tennis ball.

Looking back, this was my first realisation that it wasn’t her medical condition that stopped her, but rather a lack of knowledge and support from the people around her. This was my first encounter with the social model of disability (without knowing it at the time) and it sparked something in me.

I went on to complete a placement at an additional needs school and then on to be a Personal Assistant (PA)for a disabled man for 12 years. It started as a summer job helping with physio exercises, evolving to include assisting with personal care and also with his work as an Independent Living Officer for a disability charity – which included delivering disability equality training. All of this allowed me to gain a vast knowledge of disability theory, such as the models of disability and how this relates to everyday life.

My Favourite work out song:
Anything by Westlife

My Favourite movie:
Santa Claus the movie

My Favourite snack:
Pistachios

Interesting fact about me:
I knocked my front teeth out when my adult teeth grew in and luckily got a third set