The Laboratory of Adapted Physical Activity/Developmental and Physical Disabilities (APALab) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) is participating in the «Swim your Way» European Erasmus+ SPORT Programme, (01/01/2020 - 31/12/2021) with five European institutions with experience in the field of sports and the management of European programs. The partnership involves organizations operating in different areas, specifically, two Universities, two swimming clubs and a nonprofit association.

     The aim of the project is to create a well-structured Guide with adapted lessons on how to teach swimming to children with disabilities according to their different needs. So, they can have full access to sport activities, which is in line with the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020. Specifically, the disabilities are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Neurological Disorders, and Physical Disabilities.

    Coordinator of the project is “Kolymvitikos Athlitikos Omilos Asterias”, Swimming Club Asterias (Katerini, Greece). Partners of the project are:

1) The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), School of Physical Education  and Sport Science, Professor Dimitra Koutsouki, Scientific Supervisor of the Project for APALab (Greece),

2) The National University of Physical Education and Sport Bucharest (Romania),

3) “Športno društvo Riba” (Slovenia),

4) “Associazione Euphoria” (Italy).

    Representatives of all partners had frequent meetings and workshops, either online (due to covid-19 restrictions), or face-to-face, to exchange valuable ideas and experience in the field of aquatics for people with disabilities, good practices, results, and recommendations.

The Swim your Way Guide embodies not only an extensive literature review for each of the aforementioned disabilities, but also adapted lessons in the following swimming skills: a) accommodation and safety rules, b) breathing, c) floating, d) propelling and e) diving.

The Swim your Way Guide is offered as an Open Educational Resource to other professionals of the sport, swimming instructors, PE teachers and trainers. It is available in five different languages (EN, EL, IT, SL, RO) and it is expected to have a cross sectional long term positive effect to the adapted swimming area, helping people with disabilities to participate in swimming.

Swimming lessons for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are presented in video, which you can watch on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8m35y8oc6mctT6Ahg9Dxg

More info about the Programme on the website: http://swimyourway.eu/

Facebook: @swimyourway

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