Cool in the Pool: Making swimming accessible
A FULL body workout, improved well-being, feeling calm and relaxed; these are all benefits associated with swimming, and some of the reasons why millions of people all over the world love to swim. Sam Forde is no different, Sam loves to swim, but Sam has complex physical and intellectual disabilities, so he can't just jump into a pool anytime he likes.
Sam uses a wheelchair and is also blind which means he requires ongoing care and support, especially when he wants to participate in his favourite activity, swimming.
Luckily for Sam he has fantastic parents, Debbie and Des, who, like many parents of children with a disability, they are completely committed to providing Sam with every available opportunity to be included in activities that he enjoys. Sam is 17, so lifting and moving him from his wheelchair is not done as freely as when he was younger.
As a pupil in St Cecilia's School, Sam availed regularly of the Hydrotherapy pool in Cregg House, but as this is no longer in operation, Debbie and Des had to look for other options to enable Sam to access a pool.
Linking with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership (SSRP), Sligo Regional Sports Centre in Cleveragh and Sligo County Council, the feasibility of making the changing facilities at Cleveragh more accessibly for people with more complex physical disabilities were explored. Following this, funding was allocated through SSRP to purchase a new free-standing hoist and accessible changing plinth for the facility at Cleveragh. This equipment is, as Des puts it ‘a game changer' for them in terms of enabling Sam to go swimming at the pool in Cleveragh.
Sam can now link in with the local
ThisAbility group, which his dad Des helped to set up alongside Trish Kelly and Margaret Dempsey, two other local parents of children with a disability. The ThisAbility group is made up of likeminded parents who work with each other to run a range of activities for their children to participate in. Up until now, the groups weekly swim sessions were not accessible for Sam due to his complex needs and lack of fully accessible changing facilities.
The new equipment enables Sam to once again ‘feel the freedom' swimming affords him, his disabilities lessened by the water, the sensations helping him to feel relaxed and content.
Commenting on the equipment Debbie and Des stated “our son Sam, along with other people with a disability now have seamless access to the swimming pool. This not only enhances his physical wellbeing, but also contributes positively to his mental health.
Sam loves being in the water, and we are grateful for this inclusive equipment that supports Sam. We encourage other people with physical disabilities to avail of the equipment”.
Anyone supporting someone with a disability and wishing to use the hoist and plinth to access the swimming pool can contact Sligo Regional sports Centre on 071 9160539 to book a slot and training on how to use the hoist and plinth can be arranged.
Shane Hayes, the Sports Inclusion Officer with SSRP concluded “seeing Sam and his dad in the water is truly an uplifting feeling. Its why we will continue to work towards improving access to sport and physical activity for people with disabilities in Sligo in any way we can. Although Sam can't tell us himself, we can see he's happy”.
Back row: Dara Mulvey (Sligo County Council), Deirdre Lavin(Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership) Marion McNulty, Des Forde, Debbie Forde, Emer Concannon (Sligo County Council), Shane Hayes (Sligo Sport and Recreational Partnership); Front row: Emer McNulty, Sam Forde.