How can I continue swimming if I'm blind or have low vision?

Swimming can be an excellent sport for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. It has been practiced for many years by individuals of all ages, for competition, fitness, and fun. Swimming for exercise can be achieved through swim exercises, water aerobics, and lap swimming.

Lap Swimming and Water Aerobics

• If you swim laps, count the number of strokes it takes to cover the length of the pool. This will help you slow down as you approach the end of your lane.
• A pool with ropes separating the lanes can help you remain within your own lane and maintain your orientation within the swimming area.



• Lap swimming can be adapted by using lane markers. These can be brightly colored flotation devices or swim ropes with flotation markers.
• Place a brightly colored marker or an audio device, such as a radio or beeping transmitter, at the end of the lane to help with turns and orientation to the pool.
• Competitive swimmers with limited or no vision use a "tapper." This is a knowledgeable and experienced sport guide who is trained to observe a swimmer's strokes and "tap" the swimmer with a long pole to indicate the lane ending and the need to make a turn.
• Tappers are positioned at each end of the pool and use a rod with a firm foam tip to touch or tap the swimmer at the correct moment.
• Swim tappers must synchronize their tap with the swimmer's stroke movement and momentum to enable the blind swimmer to swim at top speed without fear of colliding with the end of the pool. Tappers also help blind swimmers to execute a racing turn without losing time during a race.
• Water aerobics usually take place in a restricted area of the pool. Each participant is assigned a spot within the water aerobics area, which ensures a safer water exercise experience. You can also request a spot near the edge of the pool.

Resources for Swimming

• The International Blind Sports Association [1]: Information about swimming with a visual impairment
• The AquaEye™ [2] is a swimming aid for blind and visually impaired swimmers that communicates swimmer pool position and alerts the swimmer to end-wall and obstacle approach.
• The United States Association of Blind Athletes [3]: Information about competitions and adaptations
• The Handicapped Scuba Association [4]: Learn to scuba dive
• See Sports & Exercise [5], Sports Groups [6], and Recreation, Sports, & Leisure Products [7] for tips, answers to frequently-asked questions, and resources for sports and leisure equipment and activities.