Disability and drowning: personal experiences, research, and practicalities of adapted aquatics

Pearn, John, and Franklin, Richard C. (2013) Disability and drowning: personal experiences, research, and practicalities of adapted aquatics. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 7 (2). pp. 157-162.

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Abstract

One in every fifty individuals is born with a physical or intellectual disability which will potentially modify his or her life. A fulfilled life includes opportunities for swimming, sailing, boating, and other aquatic sports. There is a potential of increased risks of drowning if children born with a physical or intellectual disability participate in such water sports. These risks are potential, but ought not be realized. A mainstream responsibility (and challenge) for all involved in aquatic professions is to maximize the opportunities for aquatic experiences among individuals with disabilities without also allowing the potential risks to translate into drowning or other serious injuries. Three key themes for the inclusion of individual children and adults with disabilities are "respect, relationships, and opportunity."

In this paper, we describe experiences with adapted aquatics for children with uncontrolled epilepsy and other disabilities who nevertheless can participate in aquatic experiences and sports with vigor, yet with safety. Our personal experience of children who do not meet traditional safety criteria is such that aquatic participation is still possible with extra supervisory provision.

Item ID: 30577
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1932-9253
Keywords: disabilities, adapted aquatics, drowning, child safety
Copyright Information: © 2013 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Date Deposited: 19 Mar 2014 06:29
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111703 Care for Disabled @ 50%
11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111712 Health Promotion @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920401 Behaviour and Health @ 30%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920403 Disability and Functional Capacity @ 35%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920409 Injury Control @ 35%
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