Disability Swimming Web Resouces and Organizations
The Montana Swimming disability swimming chair is Susan Huckeby. The Diveristy, Equity and Inclusion Chair is combined with the Disability Chair position.
USA Swimming Disability contacts are:
Tina Dessart, USA Swimming Staff Liaison for the Disability Swimming Committee
Jim Peterfish, Committee Chair
Web Resources:
USA Swimming -- disability swimming webpage
USA Down Syndrome Swimming website
US Paralympics Swimming webpage
Challenged Athletes Foundation webpage
Americans With Disabilities website
Coaching Communication with Deaf Athletes website
Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments (AIM FREE) Manuals
Disability Sport Organizations
The following organizations offer disability-specific swimming competitions. In some cases, the organizations also offer athlete development programs such as clubs/swimming practices, camps, and clinics. The international organizations conduct quadrennial multi-sports competitions analogous to the Olympic Games: (a) the International Parlympic Committee conducts Paralympic Games in the same years as Olympic Games; (b) CISS conducts the Deaflympics in the years following the Olympic Games; and (c) Special Olympics International conducts the World Special Olympics Games in the years preceding the Olympic Games.
International Governing Bodies
- International Paralympic Committee
- Comite' International des Sports des Sourds
- Special Olympics International
USA Governing Bodies
- U.S. Paralympics (USA governing body for Paralympic swimming)
U.S. Paralympics is a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee - U.S. Deaf Swimming (deaf/hard of hearing)
- Special Olympics (intellectual disabilities)
USA Disability Sport Organizations
- Blaze Sports (physical disabilities and vision loss)
- Athletes Without Limits (intellectual disabilities)
- Disabled Sports USA (amputation/wounded war veterans)
- Dwarf Athletic Association of America (short stature)
- Special Olympics (intellectual disabilities)
- U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (blind/vision loss)
- U.S. Deaf Swimming (deaf/hard of hearing)
- Wheelchair Sports USA (lower limb impairments)
- Little People of America (LPA) (dwarfism)
- USA Deaf Sports Federation - Swimming
- USA Down Syndrome Swimming
International Sport Organizations
- Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association
- Down Syndrome International Swimming Organization
- International Blind Sports Federation
- International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (CISS)
- International Sports Federation for People with an Intellectual Disability
- International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation
Disability Swimming Information
U.S. Paralympics Swimming provides an avenue for athletes with disabilities to compete against athletes with similar impairments. U.S. Paralympics Swimming is a supplement to USA Swimming not a substitute for it. Swimmers will benefit from all USA Swimming and their local club has to offer including being a part of a team, regular local competitions, motivational standards and championship meets. U.S. Paralympics Swimming provides additional avenues to compete both nationally and internationally as well as clinics, camps, national team membership and support services, just like elite able-bodied swimmers.
In order to compete in a para-swim meet, an athlete needs to undergo classification. The classification process determines sport classes for the athlete which in turn provides a more level playing field in competition. There are 14 classes: 10 for physical impairments, 3 for athletes with visual impairments and 1 for cognitive impairments. Classification is most often conducted in conjunction with a U.S. Paralympics Swimming competition providing swimmers the opportunity to receive their sport class, experience classified competition and become acquainted with other athletes and coaches involved in the sport all in the same weekend.
The following link will assist you as you begin to explore para-swimming
If you have questions, please feel free to contact either Jamie.Martin or Queenie.Nichols
