Swim England and UK Deaf Sport making swimming accessible with equal starts – UK Deaf Sport
The start of a race can be challenging for deaf athletes, especially those who are unable to wear their hearing aids or cochlear implants in the water.

As part of an ongoing project, an unprecedented number of facilities in England which host level one and level two meets have been equipped with strobe lighting to ensure deaf swimmers have equal starts to their peers.

The West Midlands will see the installation of these once pools begin to open up again and our National partnership manager Sadie will be delivering Deaf Awareness Training to the regions swim coaches. Enabling coaches to understand the barriers facing deaf people in swimming, help develop communication skills and be able to use them effectively in a coaching session and pathways for deaf swimming.

Swim England North East, Swim England and UK Deaf Sport are committed to making these changes nationwide, so deaf swimmers across the country have access to equal starts. They will  continue to seek to identify opportunities to support coaches, referees and officials through deaf awareness training and support.

This is a great chance to build on UKDS partnerships with National Governing Bodies.