I can swim even when am not able to walk: Swimming Benefits for People with Disabilities.

Stars taking part in a hydrotherapy session

Did you know that a good number of people with disabilities (PWDs) who cannot walk can actually play in the water? Did you know that water play or hydrotherapy as water play is technically known, has great benefits for people with disabilities, especially those that are immobile and cannot move on their own? 

 Unfortunately, for many people with disabilities, this opportunity has not been accessed. There are varied reasons why many people with disabilities, and especially those in the context within which Stars Ministries Uganda (SMU) serves, have not or cannot access water play/swimming opportunities. Some caretakers are not aware or fear to let their PWDs play in the water. Yet for others, it is a lack of acceptance in their communities and therefore may not be easily allowed into a community swimming pool where other people are playing. And yet still, others cannot afford the costs involved in taking a PWD to a swimming pool considering the special transport and care involved in the process. 

 Despite the hurdles involved, SMU has pushed forward with this approach in their programming as they serve the Stars (PWDs as they are called at SMU). For SMU, swimming or water-play is not only a fun activity for the Stars but also part of their physiotherapy and occupational therapy regimen. True, the Stars have fun and may generally view it as fun, as stated by the Executive Director, Ms. Sylvia Kalyebara: “The Stars really come alive when they are in the water. They have so much fun”. One of the Stars, Rachael, also noted the fun aspect of swimming and water-play: “I feel relaxed and I feel happy knowing that even when am not able to walk, I can be able to swim just like any other person. The water makes me feel very relaxed and I love swimming with the other Stars and the volunteers”. 

The SMU staff and volunteers, however, are aware that there are special benefits to Hydrotherapy beyond the fun generated and experienced in the water. For Stars whose movement is limited, and who spend most of their time grounded, water-play enables stretching of stiff joints to improve mobility, it builds muscle strength, improves muscle tone, enables balance training, and improves coordination, for Stars that are physically challenged. Social-emotionally, water-play builds self-esteem, improves cognitive processing, and improves a range of other social-emotional skills. 

Thirty-one of the SMU Stars are able to benefit from this programming approach. SMU plans to deliver this activity at least once every week, for the Stars that are able to benefit from it. Like other SMU programs for the Stars, this activity requires a dedicated team of volunteers to support special transportation to the swimming facility and to care for the Stars while in the water. It costs 40,000UGX to support one Star to participate in four hydrotherapy sessions a month. 

Support SMU to extend her reach today by sponsoring a star. Visit our “Get Involved” page on this site for details on how to give or get in touch. You can also give through our International Partners Faith and Learning International.