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Paralympics

blueshark

Hi

In the paralympics Jessica Jane Applegate won a gold medal I was actually there on the great day. She is reported to have Aspergers, although swimming as an S14 she must have an IQ below 75. Does this seem correct Aspergers implies average to high IQ should it be autism? I have been involved in disability swimming for years and have many autistic swimmers at my club and my moan to anyone who will listen is where can they compete. The answer is able-bodied competitions (unless they have an IQ below 75). How many autistic children do you think would be capable of/fast enough to do this. If anyone's child has done this, could you tell me about their experience

  • Hi

    The INAS website and the MENCAP website have details of the criteria but as you say quite vague. Basically there is 3 parts

    1. IQ 75 or below on wechsler full IQ test

    2. Adaptive living test done by a pyschologist, would they need more help to live an everyday life than the average person (probably most autistic people)

    3. Condition must have been present before the age of 18.

    However I do know of 2 S14 paralympian swimmers who can drive Dan Pepper and Francis Dart (my autistic daughter according to the OT who assessed her for transport is not even allowed to cross a road on her own, but can do quite difficult maths sums).

    My intention is not to cause trouble for Jessica Jane Applegate but to find somewhere for autistic children at my club to compete. Special Olympics and paralympic S14 IQ below 75 only. Able bodied meets too big, too loud, too fast (since most have some degree of dyspraxia) Since september this year all British Swimming/ASA regional disablilty events only take swimmers who can be paralympic classified.

  • From what I can find online, it appears S14 covers all 'intellectual disabilities'.

    Also, from watching an interview with her, I'd be very surprised if she does have an IQ below 75.

    Do you have a link to further details of the classification criteria?

    All I've been able to find are very vague and non-specific descriptions.

  • quote "Does this seem correct Aspergers implies average to high IQ should it be autism?".. good point, but Aspergers is at both ends of the spectrum, just that with a higher cognitive flexibility it is recognised more as Aspergers.

    Jessica Jane Applegate what a great name, sounds like a winner. Smile