ALT Sam “I love Sunday mornings! It is great to see my friends and have lots of fun with the coaches ..oh and improve my swimming! Swim-IT is more than just a swim club!”
ALT Stewart loves his swimming and his stroke and confidence has improved with all the support he gets at swim IT. It’s great to see more relevant swimming galas being offered to them.
ALT Lucas loves swimming, he says he feels like a champion when he is in the water. He can’t wait to start swimming freely and to do competitions.
ALT Jack a visually impaired swimmer standing with his medals. Kirsty (mum) had this to say on Jacks swimming: Personally I think swimming has opened up opportunities for Jack as he now feels supported and included in a a sport. Jack hasnt always had this opportunity as his visual impairment and autism bring so many challenges for him to find a suitable and inclusive sport. Swimming has given Jack back his confidence and self esteem but most importantly his amazing coaches have made it inclusive. His coaches have gone over and above to support Jack from seeking advice from visual impairment teachers to making him a tapper so he isn't scared of hitting the wall. I really think finding coaches who understand and are willing to learn will always help any individual disabled or not reach there full potential.
ALT Megan and Oliver standing in their new swim-IT T-shirts. Debby had this to say on her swimmers: With Oliver, he has always been petrified of the water, swimming with Swim IT having the patience and great teachers getting to know Oliver had helped him so much either his confidence in the water but shown him he is capable!! He’s so excited now he’s learning to be able to swim and shown that with the right team he can achieve anything !! With Megan, this is the first place that anyone has had the patience and knowledge to help Megan what is understood of her, a safe space when she is not feeling her best.
ALT I just wanted to say that getting the kids into swimming with swim-IT has been the best thing for them, they have both grown in confidence so much, you guys are amazing with the kids, thank you 😊
ALT Merryn in the stands at a competition. Kevan had this to say: Success in swimming is creating a healthy lifestyle focused around swimming. As a para swimmer mainstream inclusion is vital not only for the sport but also to normalise disability for Merryn and her peers. Creating a healthy lifestyle has been a great way to start her early years learning about health and fitness in the sport. Challenges have been rather minor tending to be within the system with the limits of inclusion in the sport. There's some limitations to physical training out the pool but Merryn can adapt supported by her coaches.
ALT Matthew and Eli standing with there medals. Gillian had this to say: Swim IT is such a positive, inclusive experience for our children. So often in mainstream sport the boys have struggled and we've felt judged. They find it hard to follow instructions, especially in busy, noisy environments and can easily become overwhelmed and find it hard to hold it together. Being able to take part in sports, especially swimming which they get so much out of in terms of movement and sensory feedback - on top of it being a life skill - is so important and such a joy. The disability competitions we attended have been some of the most heartwarming things I've ever been to. Our kids just need a little extra patience, support and accomodations to be able to achieve wonderful things.
ALT I just wanted to say how wonderful Swim-IT has been for my triplet boys now 9 years old. A club run by people who actually genuinely care about the disability community. My son with ASD and ID has gone from staying in the corner of the pool playing with toys for around 2 years, to now joining a small group of children and following instructions. With determination and perseverance from the club he is now kicking his legs, floating and swimming with support. He has surpassed any expectations we had. His paediatrician could not believe it and was emotional when I told her of his progress. Swim-IT has not only helped my boys to swim but also has helped with communication, something people with autism really struggle with. My other son with ASD and hyperacusis is able to now put his head under water, which is something he really struggled with. We cannot thank Swim-IT enough for being one of the few clubs to say they are all-inclusive and truly mean it! You are all amazing people!
ALT Alex standing holding her LDS endeavour award!
ALT Merryn holding her LDS Jim Anderson award! Merryn: I’m thankful that I got the Jim Anderson bursary award and I enjoy swimming for the freedom and having something to motivate me through the day, the club has helped me became the swimmer I am.
ALT Jackie standing on poolside with his medals and holding the LDS most improved swimmer award!
ALT Aaron winning and holding the SDS top boy award!
ALT Sam mid throw at the Down syndrome GB training camp!
ALT Euan helping a first time swimmer with a learning disability in the water!
ALT Alex, Stewart, Dylan and Calum ready to race at the SDS championship!
ALT The group at sported working hard!
