ASTANA – A swimming competition involving children with disabilities took place Aug. 17 in Astana. The Kazakh association of parents of children with disabilities organised the event with the support of Asyl Bala national association to demonstrate children’s boundless capabilities.
Children that participated in the race have different diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida and sight and hearing difficulties.
“Our children have been attending adaptive swimming programme for six months launched by our association together with Space Fitness centre. We have such opportunity thanks to our cooperation. We want to show that our children are capable of everything,” Chairperson of the Kazakh association Nurgul Ulzhekova noted.
Focusing on opportunities rather than limitations is essential, according to Ulzhekova, as it helps demonstrate children abilities, promote healthy lifestyle and physical activity and transform common stereotype-based perception about people with special needs.
First Deputy Chairperson of the Astana office of Nur Otan party Bakhyt Saparov joined the celebrations and awarded the certificates to the participants.
Funded by private funds, the association runs two group classes this year – adaptive swimming and adaptive karate providing training to nearly 60 kids.
Children are demonstrating incredible results within a short period, including strengthening their immune systems, improving coordination of movement and memory and learning movement skills.
