Swimming for disabled people.

1. Swimming
Klavdia Bukina SPO12S

2. Table of content:
 Learn to swim
 Different types of disability
 Competitive swimming
 Special equipment

3. Learn to Swim
Swimming is one of the most popular choices of activity
for disabled adults and children. Some of the benefits
swimming offers are:
 Improved mobility compared to when on land as water
supports the whole body.
 Ease from tight or painful joints and tendons thanks to water
bouyancy.
 Improved balance and agility.
 Improved confidence and comfort in and around water.

4. Different types of disability:
 Visual impairment - learners may need to be guided
around the facility to orientate themselves. The use of
manual demonstrations and the use of
music, originating from the same place, would also help
with orientation.
 Hearing impairments - use of photos or pictures may
help and some deaf swimmers can pick up rhythm to
help with timing.

5.  Amputees - ensure depth of water is adequate to avoid
abrasions from the bottom of the pool.
 General learning disabilities - learners can be helped
by using continual repetition in a variety of ways to
achieve the same ends. Use accurate
demonstration, pictures and basic signing to reinforce
verbal instructions.

6. Competitive swimming
Disability Swimming Classifications
 S1-S10 Physical disability (cerebral palsy, multiple
sclerosis, amputees).
 S11-S13 Visual impairment ranging from no light
perception to visual impairment or visual acuity of less
than 6/60.
 S14 Learning disability for swimmers with an IQ of 75
or less with significant limitations in adaptive behavior.
 S15 Hearing impairment with an average loss of 55dB
or greater in their better ear.

7.  There are to different levels of competitive swimming-
national and international level.
 These cover all swimming techniques, performed on
stretches of between 25m and 400m, as individual and
relay races.

8. Special equipment
Use of Wheelchairs on Poolside
 Swimmers with a disability need to have the same
access to opportunities as non-disabled swimmers.
The law demands access routes to pools must be
wheelchair-friendly and that users have access to the
water.

9.  http://www.swimming.org/go/disability/disability-
swimming-stars/