Advocating for change

It doesn’t take much to accommodate those with disabilities at events, says adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge

In 2016 I took part in my first open water swimming event as someone with a disability. I remember it to this day; at the time I was able to walk a reasonable distance with crutches but I struggled. The parking was a long walk from the event village and it was then even further to the entry point and there wasn’t any help there for me. I ended up not hearing the race briefing because I couldn’t stand in the area it was being given for long enough!

I was raising money for a charity that had supported me through my diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, so, I was determined to complete the 1-mile swim. I did just that, but then had the long walk back to the car. I was exhausted and it caused a huge flare up. Despite that, I had loved the swim so much that I wanted to enter another one!

As my health conditions deteriorated and I began needing to use a wheelchair, I realised that there was little awareness of open water swimmers with disabilities and therefore a lack of support and help available at events. Organisers weren’t used to thinking about and considering the accessibility of their events. Even now, nine years later, some event organisers act surprised when you contact them asking what assistance would be available for a swimmer with a disability.

It took me a few years to realise that nothing would change or improve unless people raised the issues, asked the questions and tried to help find solutions. Swimming was my happy place and as a result I decided to document my open water swimming journey in order to and raise awareness of swimmers with disabilities. I began advocating for other disabled swimmers in the way I wish someone else had been able to do for me at my first event.

Participation levels in outdoor swimming soared during the pandemic and, as a result, more swimmers with all sorts of disabilities were swimming outdoors. That, along with individual swimmers advocating for change, has resulted in huge improvements at open water swimming events, but there is still a way to go. Accessibility at events now varies hugely. Some events are fantastic and actively encourage those with disabilities to take part, with others it feels like they make it difficult for the disabled swimming community to participate.

For event organisers reading this, it doesn’t take much to accommodate those with disabilities at your events. The best place to start is by adding a section on accessibility to your FAQs. Think about your whole event from start to finish, not just the swim. How are people arriving? Is there disabled parking? How far is it from parking to registration? Can they get to the bag drop? Are there volunteers to help them? What is the entry point like? Add photos of the entry/exit point and the event so that people can judge for themselves if it will be possible and accessible for them.

Let’s start empowering individuals rather than discouraging them.