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Swimming Without Barriers

Fact: 

 1 in 6 people living in UK are classified as deaf.

 Swimming Without Barriers provides accessibility for deaf swimmers and coaches.  Outdoor swimming has become more and more popular in recent years especially regarding mental health and well beginning. 

Everyday deaf people face barriers. This has a huge effect on their mental health and their well being. This becomes even more pronounced in sport and can add to an already fragile situation when deaf sports people face additional challenges over and above those experienced in day to day life. 

According to research, swimming in open water has significant positive impact on mental health generally  and has been shown to reduce depression and alleviate anxiety. Swimmers enjoy meeting other swimmers in a safe community and a community that shares a strong common identity.  For deaf swimmers, meeting with other deaf swimmers overcomes their biggest barrier which is a fear of not knowing anyone at the open water venue, particularly to help them with communication, which  often stops them from participating at all. Simply fearing to go is one thing, but feeling isolated and left out is another. Add to this they probably won’t be able to follow briefings and safety instructions creates additional anxiety.  

Access to event information is often a barrier for deaf swimmers and coaches where, especially in these times of online learning and coaching. There are many workshops and webinars out there relating to open water swimming, but in almost all cases, no subtitles or sign language interpreters. At live coaching events there is no access to BSL trained coaches or provision made for deaf people (interpreters). We, as deaf people, understand that deaf participants are not thought about as in most cases there are very few deaf participants. This is not because there is no desire or demand, but usually because they are fearful of being there for the reasons I’ve outlined above.

Swimming Without Barriers greatly wishes to change this and see more deaf people get involved, both coaches and swimmers by providing the deaf awareness courses to events and coaches who may wish to be more inclusive but have no idea where to start, provide access to sign language interpreters, assist in creating access to communication generally and provide a pathway in how to involve deaf people in open water swimming.  At actual events we would very much like to provide health and safety briefing accessibility and assist in being the platform that enables deaf and hearing swimmers, coached and events to participate together and by so doing build the a deaf swimming community network that is inclusive.

Organizer

Caroline Hurley
Organizer
England

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