Snorkelling for Handicapped Youngsters
by Jill Myers
The Guillemot Branch of the British Sub Aqua Club.
Having worked with sick children for many years I have observed that many handicapped children although often unable to move unaided on land are very much at home in the water as swimming is included in their therapy.
With this in mind in 1983 I trained a group of handicapped children to snorkel, raised funds and took the children out to Kenya where they enjoyed a week snorkelling on the reefs off the Mombassa coast. The group included spina bifida cases, spastics, rheumatic diseases and road traffic accident cases including a boy who had lost both legs and one arm. The expedition was a great success and all 14 children returned well and happy. In 1985 I trained a further group and took them to Eilat in Israel. Warm seas were chosen for these trips since the handicapped feel the cold much more than able bodies. Another expedition was undertaken in 1990, again to Kenya.
The children were in the age range 11 - 18 years and benefited enormously from these trips, both physically and mentally. Youngsters who could only struggle across a swimming pool were confidently swimming half a mile out to sea with the use of mask and snorkel and in some cases fins. Both parents and teachers reported an improvement in the childrens’ well being following snorkelling training. Although the object of the training is primarily of a sport and recreational nature there is no doubt that it also has a therapeutic value.
The (English) Sports Council, Yorkshire and Humberside Region were impressed by this type of training and in 1986 awarded a grant of £500 to set up a two year pilot scheme, the idea being to create as many group as possible within the area. A further £500 was made available the following year.
The scheme is open to all physically handicapped youngsters between the ages of 11 - 19 who are able to swim. A training schedule was set up and approved by the National Diving Officer of the B.S.A.C, however youngsters are only able to achieve according to their disabilities so there are no hard and fast rules.
Local Authorities are approached for pool time for training sessions and can also assist with publicity and identification of local handicapped Homes and Schools. These schools are then visited and a ‘come and try’ session held. Divers from local dive clubs are then invited to act as volunteer instructors and there has been terrific enthusiasm from every club approached. A ‘starter pack’ is required for each new member-comprising masks, snorkels and fins. I have some funds in hand to supply these packs using monies presented to the Guillemots by the Prince of Wales who has taken a special interest in the programme. A special demonstration was arranged at his request in 1990.
When a trainee joins the Guillemots they pay a ‘one off subscription of jZ5.00 and receives a membership card, Snorkel Manual and Third Party Insurance. At the end of the training course a certificate and badge is awarded. Log Books are not used to avoid competition among the youngsters. When instructing the trainees, kindness and patience are often more important than qualifications. Many of the youngsters are very nervous at first and all instruction is given on a one to one basis with the instructor in the pool. Attempts have been made to train the handicapped along-side able bodied young people but it has not been a success. They cannot cope with the boisterous nature of the fit and eventually stop coming to the training sessions.
This project seems to be particularly suited to the inner city areas where there is a concentration of swimming pools and a proliferation of Diving Clubs who can supply instructors. It is very cheap to run and gives an opportunity for the handicapped to participate in a sport on almost an equal level with able bodies.
The object of the scheme is to provide a structure whereby under strict supervision, physically disabled trainees between the ages of 11 - 19, with medical permission, might learn the use of snorkel equipment to experience the underwater world and to enhance their own swimming capabilities.
The training programme is open to the physically disabled and includes the deaf and dumb. The blind, mentally handicapped and anyone suffering from fits or seizures are not considered to be suitable candidates for the scheme.
All applicants MUST have signed medical per-mission and signed permission form Parent or Guardian. As the disabilities in the group will vary widely, each trainee will have individual instruction and although a training scheme is set out, trainees will only be able to achieve according to their capabilities.
No lectures are provided for trainees and theory is kept to a minimum. However, trainees will be given careful explanations along with instruction and questions encouraged by the instructors. An assessment test is given at the end of the course and certificates awarded.
EDITORS NOTE
It has been suggested that such a scheme be started in Scotland. It even has a name, suggested by Ken Farrow.
MAC-Guillemots.
Anyone out there interested? I am sure that Jill Myers would be pleased to hear from you, her address is:-
Jill Myers 56,
York Place
Harrogate
NORTH YORKSHIRE
HG1 5RHJ
Tel. 01423 565516