Children with disabilities in need of lifeguards, say swim teachers, parents

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This article was published 24/07/2023 (777 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nathanael Peters won’t be attending swimming lessons this summer. For the 22-year-old who lives with autism, it’s a devastating loss.

“As special needs parents, we are kind of used to the challenges and having to advocate so strongly for our son’s needs, but it’s discouraging because we know he doesn’t have as many options recreationally and socially,” said his mother, Carol Lelond-Peters.

“It’s such a disappointment for him, because we kind of talk it up and get him excited about it, and then it doesn’t happen.”

A provincial shortage of lifeguards has sent the City of Winnipeg scrambling to recruit and retain qualified staff. Meantime, parents of children with disabilities are treading water, Lelond-Peters said.

“He needs to have a high level of activity and structure, so when there aren’t those opportunities, we are trying to figure out how to fill his time so he feels productive and fulfilled,” she said by phone.

“I hear the frustrations of other parents that they are having trouble getting their kids into regular swimming lessons, but the opportunities for the special needs community are way smaller… There just needs to be awareness.”

Lifesaving Society Manitoba data show there are around 900 registered lifeguards in the province; before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were roughly 1,100.

The numbers are trending in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go, said Christopher Love, the organization’s water smart and safety management co-ordinator.

People with special needs can be at higher risk of drowning, depending on physical and cognitive abilities, Love said.

“Thankfully, I can say individuals with disabilities are not a huge portion of our drowning statistics here in Canada… but it is something we continue to monitor.”

The Lifesaving Society, which is the largest provider of swimming lesson programming in Canada, is reviewing its standards for special needs swimming programs.

Love urged parents and caregivers to consult with pools in their area to confirm whether they provide private lessons for people with special needs. “By doing that, they are going to let the pools know about the amount of demand for this service and, by extension, that’s going to help us as an agency determine the need.”

Swimmingly, a non-profit organization which provides non-certificate swim lessons for disabled youth, was working with 400 children before the pandemic. However, it was only able to accommodate around 100 during its most recent session.

“We are entirely rebuilding,” organization president Sharyne Hamm said by phone.

“Our numbers are much further down than they used to be, and we have an enormous waiting list of kids… We have the pool space for them, but just no instructors.”

The organization is looking for people over the age of 15 to volunteer for 1 1/2 hours per week during the upcoming fall and winter sessions (September to November and January to March, respectively).

Because Swimmingly is a non-certificate program, volunteers do not need to be registered lifeguards — although a fully certified lifeguard is present during every lesson.

Volunteers can apply online. Experience teaching or working with people with special needs is not required, but is considered an asset, Hamm said.

“The confidence you see a child gain over the course of the swimming lessons, not only in their swimming ability but in their interactions… It’s incredible. It makes all the volunteer work worth it.”

It costs $25 to register. Each child receives 10, 30-minute private sessions with an instructor.

In an effort to boost lifeguard recruitment and retention, the City of Winnipeg has been offering lifeguard training courses free of charge.

The 16-week program includes considerations for supporting participants with disabilities, a spokesperson said Friday.

According to its data, there are approximately 315 part-time instructors on the city’s payroll — up from 260 earlier this year.

People with disabilities are permitted to enrol in any swimming lesson, although the city recommends consulting with Community Services staff before registration, a spokesperson said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca