Edmonton

Edmonton rec centres make a splash by offering aids to assist deaf swimmers

Amandeep Saggu and her sons are deaf, which can make activities like public swimming lessons overwhelming for the young boys. Now, with the help of a city pilot program, they're getting some extra assistance.

ASL interpreter at swimming lessons has made all the difference for one family

Nishan and Nirav Saggu stand in front of the pool at The Meadows Rec Centre.
Nishan and Nirav Saggu work with an ASL interpreter during their swim lessons at the Meadows rec centre. (Caitlin Hanson/CBC)

Learning to swim can be a daunting task, but for the Saggu family, the rite of passage has been additionally frustrating.

Amandeep Saggu and her sons, six-year-old Nishan and five-year-old Nirav, are deaf. That means something like swimming lessons at a public pool can become an overwhelming experience.

"They feel like they're not prioritized. And they're like the bottom of the pack," Saggu said in an interview conducted through an American Sign Language interpreter. "They have to be patient. Try and figure things out. And it's not easy."

Now with the help of a city pilot program, they're getting some extra assistance: ASL interpreter Robyn Lavender.

She joins the boys in the pool at their weekly swim class, signing alongside their instructor and giving them freedom to learn like anyone else.

"It's been really wonderful for my sons. They know they get to come; they look forward to it," Saggu said. "Before that, there was a lot of frustration. And now they love coming."

Here’s how Edmonton is striving to make swimming lessons accessible

2 years ago
Duration 2:06
Deaf or hard of hearing Edmontonians have options when it comes to accessibility aids at city recreation facilities. For these two young boys, having ASL interpreter Robyn Lavender join them at their weekly swim class has made all the difference.

The one-year pilot project, launched by the city in April 2022, provides access to communication services and technologies for people that are deaf or hard of hearing. 

Eight families have signed up so far, but the city hopes to expand it into a permanent program.

A spokesperson for the city said the 2022 pilot cost about $12,500 and the city has $30,000 allocated to the pilot to support requests.

Program manager Heather Craig said it can be tailored to fit a variety of needs.

"We have some people who like to use interpreters and some people who like to use real-time captioners," Craig said.

"We've also had requests to just have additional staff come in and do more demonstrations. So it's really targeted to whatever works for that individual."

Lavender first learned sign language to communicate with her childhood friend. She was hired on a full-time contract to be an interpreter for this project.

A pool is different than her usual settings but her goals are the same.

"I think that deaf kids can do what any other kid can do. I think it's more a matter of feeling welcome in a space," Lavender said.

"Access is important so that deaf people feel like they can come and participate. They can come and feel a part of something, and feel like they are the same as anyone else. The only thing they can't do is hear."

ASL interpreter Robyn Lavender sits in the pool and signs for Nishan and Nirav Saggu during their swimming lessons.
ASL interpreter Robyn Lavender, at far right, signs for Nishan and Nirav Saggu during swim class. (Caitlin Hanson/CBC)

Saggu said the new level of comfort provided by the interpreter has allowed her sons to excel in class.

"They have people to look up to. It's not just about the fact that they're deaf. They're there and they're participating and they can play and do the same things as the other kids."

The Saggu family poses for a photo near the pool.
Amandeep Saggu and her sons, six-year-old Nishan and five-year-old Nirav, are deaf. The cities pilot program has paired the family with an ASL interpreter for swim classes. (Caitlin Hanson/CBC)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Fitzpatrick

Video Journalist

Emily Fitzpatrick is an Edmonton-based mobile journalist or MOJO for short. She has covered a wide range of stories with a focus on human interest, community, and mental health. She has spent the last decade working at CBC Edmonton reporting for web, radio and television. Email story ideas to emily.fitzpatrick@cbc.ca