The National Deaf Children’s Society says that deaf children are missing out on opportunities to learn to swim because of excessive concerns about health and safety and a lack of understanding about deafness.
The charity’s research reveals that two out of five (43%) deaf children have had difficulties accessing swimming pools or classes because of attitudes towards their hearing loss. As a result, more than a third (36%) of deaf children lack confidence in the water, falling behind other children their age in developing what could turn out to be a life-saving skill.
Parents have reported a litany of excuses from pools and clubs, such as deaf children turned away because they wouldn’t be able to hear an emergency whistle, coaches refusing to teach deaf children alongside hearing children and insisting that parents stump up for expensive one to one sessions.
Kirsty Allen’s son Zach, from Buckinghamshire, was turned away by all the swimming clubs and pools in their home town: “Zach loves water games and there is no reason why his deafness should stop him swimming with other children. With a little bit of support, Zach can enjoy swimming classes as well as other children.”
Hayley Jarvis, the NDCS’s Inclusive Activities Manager said: “By taking simple steps like using hand gestures or visual aids, teachers and coaches can include a deaf child in swimming activities.”
NDCS is launching a guide, Deaf-friendly swimming, to show swimming coaches how, through making simple steps, deaf children can be taught to swim. Swimming centres and clubs will receive training, support and resources, published by NDCS in partnership with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), to help include deaf children in swimming sessions.
The Me2 Deaf Friendly Swimming Project offers clubs a free training course on how to work with deaf children. Clubs that would like to find out more about the project, should email me2@ndcs.org.uk or visit www.ndcs.org.uk/me2.
The Limping Chicken is supported by Deaf media company Remark!, training and consultancy Deafworks, provider of sign language services Deaf Umbrella, the National Deaf Children’s Society’s Look, Smile Chat campaign, and the National Theatre’s captioned plays.
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Gosh!!
June 18, 2012
Oh my goodness. This is utterly ridiculous! I grew up in Southern California and had a swimming pool in my backyard. There was never, ever a problem. Children are the parents’ responsibility.
I remember growing up, at the end of my softball season and my brother’s baseball season, our coaches always asked my parents if they could have the season ending parties at our house – that’s how comfortable my community felt about me. The Deaf children’s parents need to expose their children in a positive way to decrease unnecessary worrisome thoughts, such as these stated in this blog!
Steve
June 19, 2012
I’m sure people’s hearts are in the right place but this is ridiculous. People should concentrate on what deaf/HoH people CAN do rather than what they can’t. I know people mean well but it grates a bit that we are judged by our disability all the time.
Evelyn Hunter
June 20, 2012
I remember all the swimming awards my deaf sister won when she was a kid. And this was with the distinct disadvantage ‘not’ being able to hear the starting whistle. She went on to do lots of things that she wasn’t aware were supposed to be ‘difficult’ for her. I remember when she took classes in Judo and flipped our Dad:) Ignorance can be so limiting.
evelynhunter
June 20, 2012
I remember all the swimming awards my deaf sister won back in the 1960’s. Nobody told her she couldn’t do things. She took Judo classes and excelled in everything she tried. Now she travels the US on her own and is still crossing things off her bucket list. It’s so sad when ignorance limits experiences and plants seeds of doubt.
Christine Baker
July 13, 2012
I work for a Sensory Impairment Team but even before this I never understood this excuse. My motto has always been “If in doubt. Find out!” Too easy to pass the buck. Everyone should be given opportunity.
Signwaves@hotmail.co.uk
January 15, 2013
We have started up a deaf swim school in Wolverhampton called Sign Waves. We take all levels of deafness and also hearing siblings. It’s so rewarding to see how much the kids improve every week. Take a look at our Facebook page for more info 🙂