From the New York Times:
www.nytimes.com/.../18swimmer.html
A Disabled Swimmer’s Dream, a Mother’s Fight
By ALAN SCHWARZ
Published: June 18, 2008
SAN DIEGO — 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....
Parents
Former Member
I’ve been giving quite a bit of thought to this article. If the kid has been able to learn to swim (even at very basic level), he must actually have better cognitive skills than they are giving him credit for. Even for normal adults, learning "Swimming 101-A" can be a difficult challange.
I am somewhat skeptical about the diagnosis of severe mental retardation/autism and maybe he could benefit from a warm social environment (with some compassionate mentoring) instead of more useless psychiatric labeling.
Anyway, I’m glad that he has found a source of joy in his life through swimming. :wine:
Dolphin 2
I’ve been giving quite a bit of thought to this article. If the kid has been able to learn to swim (even at very basic level), he must actually have better cognitive skills than they are giving him credit for. Even for normal adults, learning "Swimming 101-A" can be a difficult challange.
I am somewhat skeptical about the diagnosis of severe mental retardation/autism and maybe he could benefit from a warm social environment (with some compassionate mentoring) instead of more useless psychiatric labeling.
Anyway, I’m glad that he has found a source of joy in his life through swimming. :wine:
Dolphin 2
