Disability

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Disability Discrimination Act
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• since 2 December 1996 it has been unlawful for
  Swimming clubs to treat disabled people less
  favourably for a reason related to their
  disability

Disability Discrimination Act 1995
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• since 1 October 1999 Swimming clubs have had to
  make reasonable adjustments for disabled
  people, such as providing extra help or making
  changes to the way they provide their services
  and

Disability Discrimination Act 1995
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• from 1 October 2004 Swimming clubs may have to
  make other reasonable adjustments in relation
  to the physical features of their premises to
  overcome physical barriers to access.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995
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I was told I wasnt allowed to go to PE lessons
but I just turned up and luckily it was swimming.
The teacher asked what I was doing there and I
said just watching. The next week I brought my
costume and enjoyed PE from then on..I thought
that all disabled kids in mainstream would have
had as positive an experience as me.
Unfortunately I later learnt that Im one of the
very few lucky ones!
Tanni Paralympic Athlete
What PE and school sport did for me.
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The headmaster just wanted to put Rory on the
starting line shouting go until I asked him
whether hed actually consulted Rory in this
decision.
Mum of Rory, 8, who has cerebral palsy
What PE and school sport did for me.
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39 less young disabled people take part in sport
after school than their non disabled peers (40
versus 79)
2000 Survey Young People with a disability
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Over a quarter of young disabled people did not
take part in any sport on more than 10 occasions
during 2001
2000 Survey Young People with a disability
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• Club environment more appropriate to YDP
• Proactive promotion of opportunities to YDP
• Better quality support for clubs

2000 Survey Young People with a disability
Key Conclusions
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• Huge demand for mainstream swimming clubs for
  disabled people
• Existing swimming clubs are not catering for
• disabled people

2002 Survey Adults with a disability and
sport Key Conclusions
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Lack of money
Unsuitability of facilities
Health reasons
Unwelcoming staff
Unwelcome at sports clubs
Why ?
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I have recently been introduced to a young man
who has Down Syndrome, the club which I work with
has allocated pool time to accommodate his
training. He wishes to train with able bodied
people".  He already swims but wishes to
compete. I would like to know if there are any
competitive clubs for his disability within this
area or within the surrounding area.  Our Club
can work with him with his fitness,  but do not
have any competitions which involve swimmers with
disabilities  He is  21 years old, not very fit
at the moment, but hopefully with the help of our
club and training set up we will be able to
rectify this.  
Swimming?
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My 12 year old daughter wants to join a swimming
club. Having almost completed Grade 8, she wants
to start thinking about swimming competitively.
My daughter has a birth injury to her shoulder
that means she is unable to do butterfly, to do
so could damage her shoulder further. She has no
problems with any other stroke and is a very
strong swimmer with a 4000 metre badge. I have
booked her for a tryout at a local swimming club
this Sunday, but having explained her injury I
was told she may not be accepted into the club.
This seems ridiculous as she is such a talented
and keen swimmer. Is it allowed for clubs to
discriminate in this manner?
Swimming?
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Kieran is a keen swimmer. He is 24 yrs old
and has spina bifida. He has had some medical
problems that prevented him from swimming.
Fortunately, he is now able to swim again and
would like to get into competitive training. He
has a little experience of this, the problem is
that there is no opportunity for this in our
area.  
Swimming?
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• A small Swimming Club has had its first
• approach by a swimmer with Down's Syndrome.
• The club wants to know
• Whether we have to do anything with our ASA
  insurance to cover such a disability
• What the coaching requirements are for such a
  swimmer and
• 3) What assistance the ASA can offer.

Swimming?
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My son and daughter both have the condition
osteogenesisimperfecta (brittle bones) and
currently swim with an able bodied club. Can
you tell me how they can become involved with a
club that would provide opportunities to swim in
the Paralympics or in events in general for
swimmers with special needs.
Swimming?
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My 9 year old daughter Anna has a paralysed arm.
With enormous determination she has taught
herself to swim, and is actually a good little
swimmer. However, she will never be able to do
"proper" crawl or breaststroke. Now her school
swimming teacher says she must swim in the
younger group rather than with her own class
because she is slowing them down - he wants to
train the whole class (except Anna) to enter
inter-schools competitions, and says that waiting
for Anna to swim a length means they have to wait
for her and so waste valuable swimming time. I
believe they are discriminating against a child
with a disability. She is desperate not to swim
with the "babies", and has been breaking her
heart at the thought of it.
Swimming?
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http//www.sportengland.org/index/get_ resources/d
isability_discrimination_legislation. htm
Where can clubs get help?