Exercise is essential to increase independence of people with disabilities, but many find gyms inaccessible and unwelcoming

“Anything is possible. You just have to figure out how.”

Jason Mayweather, who was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, is concentrating too intently to take any notice of the sign on the wall of a gym in Woolloongabba, on Brisbane’s southside.

The 40-year-old is up on his feet, sweating profusely, and slowly putting one foot in front of the other — walking with the support of parallel bars and the encouraging words of exercise physiologist Ernest Starowicz.