news Report: swimming faces a diversity challenge
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PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/WAVEBREAK MEDIA
“significant majority” of the UK’s swimming teachers and aquatic professionals feel that swimming excludes some groups and communities. The finding comes from a study by the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) and ukactive, which sought to examine inclusion across the swimming teaching workforce. According to the Inclusion in the swimming industry report, swimming teachers feel that those from low socio-economic backgrounds, some 85 per cent of swimming teachers are committed to learning about inclusion
religious groups, ethnically diverse communities and people with disabilities are being excluded. Only 51 per cent felt that there is diversity in swimming, however, the workforce’s attitude towards inclusion is hugely favourable, with 85 per cent saying they feel positive about inclusion.
This study was important for us to understand perceptions, incentives, and motivations Dave Candler
STA CEO, Dave Candler, said: “This study was important for us to understand perceptions in the swimming teaching community.” ● Read HCM’s interview with the Black Swimming Association at: www.hcmmag.com/BSA More: http://lei.sr/A4M9z_H
New initiative to get neurodivergent people fit
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PHOTO: INCLUSIVE FITNESS
The funded activities will take place at the Inclusive Fitness club in Boston
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Issue 11 2021 ©Cybertrek 2021
nclusive Fitness Boston, a health club created specifically for those with disabilities and their families, is launching a new programme to provide greater access to fitness programming for neurodivergent people – those with conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. It’s estimated that about 40 million Americans have an intellectual disability or delay (IDD) and research has found that by nine years of age, most are much less active than their neurotypical peers. By the time they are 18, most get almost no daily physical exercise. Inclusive Fitness has partnered with Doug Flutie Jr Foundation for Autism to help tackle the issue. A pilot has been set up to raise awareness of the importance of
having fitness options available to the neurodiverse community and to generate financial support for those impacted by the lack of access to effective fitness programmes. The programme will include a scholarship fund offering monetary assistance to families in need, removing the financial barrier to access to fitness classes and activities. The funded activities will take place at the Inclusive Fitness club, which offers an accessible and sensory-friendly training environment, specially trained coaches and evidencebased adaptive programming. Open initially for people in the Boston area, the model could be expanded to other parts of the US. More: http://lei.sr/E4E2y_H
