Monday, July 26, 2021
Creating a More Inclusive Sport for Athletes with Disabilities
July 26 marks the anniversary of when president George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law back in 1990, giving a long-overdue feeling of equality to Americans with disabilities. Since then, the country recognizes the day each year as American with Disabilities Act Day.
This year marks the 31st-anniversary of the day. To shed light on the swimming community with disabilities, USA Swimming contacted Jim Peterfish, the organization's Disability Chair, to get his perspective on how clubs and the swimming community as a whole can become more inclusive.
What is your biggest goal, or what would you most like to see, in your role as USA Swimming Disability Chair?
I have two:
1) A nationally consistent method for swimmers with disabilities to be included in competitions from local events through national championships.
2) Educational opportunities/resources for coaches and parents to best provide services for swimmers with disabilities.
How important is it for clubs to incorporate lessons/protocols for swimmers with disabilities into their programming?
The importance for these types of programs are determined by the need in the local areas. We want to have resources available to all athletes, coaches and parents to make inclusion of interested swimmers with a disability as simple as possible.
What advice or resources do you have for clubs or learn-to-swim providers looking to create more opportunities for children with disabilities?
Our Disability page on USA Swimming website is being updated currently and will have lists of resources for club administrators on various topics related to disability swimming.
My other piece of advice is, regardless of your level of experience with swimmers with disabilities, that the time for inclusion is now. If you wait to implement a program until you are fully prepared, that time will never come. It is amazing what you can learn from the athletes and their parents/guardians as to how best modify and accommodate athletes with specific needs.
USA Swimming’s ‘Children with Challenges’ course provides excellent instruction and multiple resources for interested coaches, clubs and organizations interested in starting or expanding a program for swimmers with disabilities.
How can the swim community better support its members with disabilities outside of the pool?
Recognition can go a long way in educating and raising the awareness of the general public about the obstacles that so many of these particular athletes willingly face every day to be a part of this sport. Highlighting their achievements via newsletters, articles and in social media are effective ways to do so.
In your opinion, what are the long-term benefits of having learn-to-swim providers make their programming more accessible for children with disabilities?
The most critical benefit is water safety. Learning to swim is something everyone should have access to and is the most important step in making someone safer around the water. Quality of life improves for the individual when aquatics is a part of their daily lives. All around improvement in physical, mental and emotional health are the positive side effects of learning to swim and especially for the individual with a disability.
Can you give an example of a club and a swim lesson provider who do a great job of incorporating access for children with disabilities?
There are many clubs and learn-to-swim programs that offer excellent programs that cater to the needs of children and adults with disabilities, Robin Heller’s Seastars Aquatics program in Pensacola, Fla. is a wonderful example of an all-inclusive swim program. Parents and care givers should first start with their local recreation and parks departments to see if they offer programming in adapted aquatics. USA Swimming’s National Disability Committee, along with each of the LSC Disability Chairs, are effective resources as well.
For more resources and information, go to www.usaswimming.org/home/disability.
This year marks the 31st-anniversary of the day. To shed light on the swimming community with disabilities, USA Swimming contacted Jim Peterfish, the organization's Disability Chair, to get his perspective on how clubs and the swimming community as a whole can become more inclusive.
What is your biggest goal, or what would you most like to see, in your role as USA Swimming Disability Chair?
I have two:
1) A nationally consistent method for swimmers with disabilities to be included in competitions from local events through national championships.
2) Educational opportunities/resources for coaches and parents to best provide services for swimmers with disabilities.
How important is it for clubs to incorporate lessons/protocols for swimmers with disabilities into their programming?
The importance for these types of programs are determined by the need in the local areas. We want to have resources available to all athletes, coaches and parents to make inclusion of interested swimmers with a disability as simple as possible.
What advice or resources do you have for clubs or learn-to-swim providers looking to create more opportunities for children with disabilities?
Our Disability page on USA Swimming website is being updated currently and will have lists of resources for club administrators on various topics related to disability swimming.
My other piece of advice is, regardless of your level of experience with swimmers with disabilities, that the time for inclusion is now. If you wait to implement a program until you are fully prepared, that time will never come. It is amazing what you can learn from the athletes and their parents/guardians as to how best modify and accommodate athletes with specific needs.
USA Swimming’s ‘Children with Challenges’ course provides excellent instruction and multiple resources for interested coaches, clubs and organizations interested in starting or expanding a program for swimmers with disabilities.
How can the swim community better support its members with disabilities outside of the pool?
Recognition can go a long way in educating and raising the awareness of the general public about the obstacles that so many of these particular athletes willingly face every day to be a part of this sport. Highlighting their achievements via newsletters, articles and in social media are effective ways to do so.
In your opinion, what are the long-term benefits of having learn-to-swim providers make their programming more accessible for children with disabilities?
The most critical benefit is water safety. Learning to swim is something everyone should have access to and is the most important step in making someone safer around the water. Quality of life improves for the individual when aquatics is a part of their daily lives. All around improvement in physical, mental and emotional health are the positive side effects of learning to swim and especially for the individual with a disability.
Can you give an example of a club and a swim lesson provider who do a great job of incorporating access for children with disabilities?
There are many clubs and learn-to-swim programs that offer excellent programs that cater to the needs of children and adults with disabilities, Robin Heller’s Seastars Aquatics program in Pensacola, Fla. is a wonderful example of an all-inclusive swim program. Parents and care givers should first start with their local recreation and parks departments to see if they offer programming in adapted aquatics. USA Swimming’s National Disability Committee, along with each of the LSC Disability Chairs, are effective resources as well.
For more resources and information, go to www.usaswimming.org/home/disability.