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SLI and swimming lessons-am I expecting too much?

6 replies

used2bthin · 14/03/2011 07:53

DD is 4 and a half and has severe SLI she does talk but it is very very unclear and quite limited so without knowing her very well there isn't much she can say and be understood. Also she has difficulty understanding words esp in a noisy environment.

But she is very good at making herself understood by pointing , signing etc and I wanted to encourage her strong point which is physical stuff so started swim lessons six wks ago. The teacher doesn't get in with them and although she is very patient and there are just two others in the class, DD is just doing her own thing really, she loves it and is progressing in terms of confidence in the water but it is obvious she isn't able to process anything the teacher says and the other two children are on a different level entirely. I have switched the time of lesson and booked another six weeks and if it isn't working there is a private instructor near here who gets in the pool with them so that may be worth a try but maybe this is too hard? Or she should have a support worker? I know there is a scheme at the mo here and some funding for support workers to help disabled children access leisure activities but always feel someone else would need that sort of thing more iyswim and maybe I should just ask to go in with dd? Have to say I really don't want to do that as don't think DD get so much from it.

OP posts:
justaboutsmiley · 14/03/2011 10:28

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TotalChaos · 14/03/2011 12:25

enquire about the support scheme, if they feel she is low priority for that they will tell you.

silverfrog · 14/03/2011 12:30

I don't think it is too hard, if your dd is enjoying it, and showing some improvement in confidence already.

we went down the private route for dd1 as lessons were available at my gym, and the instructor there cam recommended by someone I knew (whose little boy has ASD also).

dd1 improved massively with the lessons - she really relaxes in the water now.

we all (me, dh and dd2) got in the pool at the same time, and dd1 had her lesson with the instructor, while the rest of us messed about/made appreciative noises when required Grin. this was a small pool at private gym, though, so made htis possible, iyswim? oftne it would be us 4, the instructor, and maybe 2 other people there...

definitely look into support, or go private if you prefer - don't give up on this if your dd is enjoying it Smile

farming4 · 14/03/2011 13:41

Hi we're in a similar situation here - ds age 4 with sli. I've now got him in at our local leisure centre in normal "ms" lessons with 7 nt kids. The instructor is great - he always gets in the pool with them and is even learning some of the signs ds uses so he can understand him. Ds has been going since Jan and loves it. It sounds like your dd is enjoying the swimming but I think from a personal point I would be happier with an instructor who was actually in the pool with the kids - if only to be able to get a childs attention without shouting from the side and also to demonstrate what they want them to do iyswim. hth Smile

TessOfTheDinnerbells · 14/03/2011 13:55

Hi. We went through similar and were quietly told (eventually) by a kind member of staff exactly what we should have been offered.

If the local sports centre cannot support my ds and meet his needs in a mainstream class (even if that means them having to provide support staff in the pool), then he is entitled to expect 1-2-1 lessons tailored to his needs AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. Any charges above those of a mainstream child are viewed as disability discrimination.

I believe that this is the same for all Local Authority areas. So maybe you should contact your disability sport worker for info.

All sport is for everyone. And we're the country that'll be hosting the Paralympics next year too!

Hope your DD gets the lessons her way.

used2bthin · 14/03/2011 21:57

Thank you all, I will give the local scheme a call tomorrw, AFAIR they only had definate funding till end of march so I will see what they say. Interesting to hear the pool should help, I will try the scheme first. Need to get out of the habit of worrying dd isn't severe enough or not wanting her to lseem different to the others, she already is.

I also much prefer the idea of an instructor being in the pool, I was quite surprised that they were on the side.

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