SpedPro

Swimming upstream

By JohnL on Jun. 18, 2008.

In “A Disabled Swimmer’s Dream, a Mother’s Fight,” Alan Schwarz of the New York Times reported about an athlete who has disabilities, Kendall Bailey, is qualified to swim in Paralympic events.

As Kendall Bailey swims, his praying-mantis limbs flapping him forward, something about the water disguises his many maladies: cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism and more. Only in a swimming pool do they dissolve and allow his troubled body and mind to be all but normal. He is happy, safe and possibly the fastest disabled breaststroker in the world.

The issue apparently is whether Mr. Bailey’s is eligible because of his cerebral palsy or ineligible because of his intellectual disabilities. Read Mr. Schwarz’s extended article for additional discussion.