by Bill Henderson

I love to swim and have been doing this regularly all my life. When it is cold, I swim indoors in pools. When it is warm, I prefer to venture outside in the ocean and lakes.

Losing my vision in my 40s posed some swimming challenges. In pools, I was no longer able to see lane markers or walls. At ocean and lakes, I was no longer able to see the shore.

Fortunately, some friends, family, and swimmers (both blind and sighted) have offered helpful suggestions. I now utilize a variety of adaptations described below in more detail. These allow me to continue swimming blind and free.

Swimming in oceans or lakes:

When I first lost my vision, I started recruiting sighted guides to swim alongside me or to direct me while standing on shore or in the water. These accommodations worked relatively well, and I still use guides occasionally. However, this way makes me dependent on the availability and willingness of others. I must also check in frequently with them to ensure that I can hear their directions.

There is another technique which allows me to swim more independently. First, I find a relatively open spot in the water from where I can tie myself to a stationary object. I do this using a clothesline style rope (approximately 15 feet in length) which has 2 brass swivel clasps attached to each end of the rope. I hook one of the swivel clasps around my hips. Then I hook the other end of the rope and its swivel clasp around the stationary object. I have secured the rope to posts, buoys, and anchors. I find the Darforth anchor to be reliable since it is light and since it digs itself securely into sand. I prefer to locate myself in water that is at least 4 feet deep so that I can stroke my arms and kick my legs without touching the bottom. I also usually try to aim myself directly into waves or the wind. It does not matter though, if I range a bit from side to side as long as I am clear of other objects or swimmers. The experience is like being on a swimming treadmill.

Swimming laps in a pool:

When I first lost my vision, I tried to swim either next to a wall or to 1 lane divider. I would constantly have to feel for what was on my side, and I would have to count my strokes so as not to bang into the end of the lane. This worked somewhat well. However, because I had to focus constantly on touching the side and on slowing down for the end, my swimming was much more cautious and tentative than when I was sighted.

After some years, I learned another technique which allows me to swim more rapidly and freely. First, I request or wait for my own lane with lane dividers on both the left and the right. I find this works best if I go to the pool when it is relatively empty or if I call and notify the lifeguards in advance. I bring 2 ropes with me which can reach from 1 lane divider to the other. Measure this distance in advance and give yourself some extra length. I tie each rope to the lane dividers at a distance of about 3 feet (my arm length) from each end of the pool. Please note that the rope needs to be tied or fastened so that it is taut. I have found that if I attach brass swivel clasps to the ends of each rope, it is easier to hook them onto the lane dividers instead of having to tie them. Either way, it is critical that the rope be taut and not loose between the lane dividers. This way one can swim as rapidly as one wants until one’s hand, shoulder, or head hit the taut rope. Once at the rope, I can either reach over it or go under it and then touch the wall before pushing off with my feet. Also, if swimming fast, I have found it helpful to wear swimming gloves so that my hands do not scrape against the lane dividers.

Swimming is a wonderful exercise, and blindness need not be a barrier. With some creativity, there are many ways of swimming while blind. Basically, blind swimmers should try out different adaptations, and then select the ones that best suit them. For me, the techniques describe above have been truly liberating allowing me to swim blind and free.

Bill Henderson was an educator in the Boston Public Schools for 36 years. His book, “The Blind Advantage: How going blind made me a stronger principal” is available from Amazon in print, on BARD as DBC011362 from NLS, or from BookShare. Bill can be reached at whenderson50@comcast.net