2024 U.S. Paralympcis Swimming Nationals (Florida)
December 13 - December 15
THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR SWIMMERS WITH
INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT (S14 Class)
Sanctioned by U.S. Paralympic Swimming
Competition Dates: December 13-15, 2024
Event Webpage: https://www.usparaswimming.org/competitions
Event Registration Deadline: Dec 1, 2024
Meet Listing on U.S. Paralympics website:
https://www.usparaswimming.org/competitions
Swimmers should register directly with the event organizers (individually or as part of their home team) using the link on the event’s website.
Eligibility Criteria/Time Standards: Paralympic meets are open to swimmers with a physical impairment, visual impairment, or intellectual impairment – there may be time standards for some events, check the meet packet PDF for details. (Typically events with “Open” in their name do not have qualification time standards.)
Classification Deadline for New S14 Swimmers: Note that National classification ‘appointments’ offered at US Paralympics events are only for athletes with physical or visual impairment. Athletes with Intellectual Impairment should complete AWL-Virtus Eligibility Application and submit (along with photoID, IQ and Adaptive Behavior assessments) to Athletes Without Limits 3-4 weeks prior to event registration deadline. AWL will inform U.S. Paralympics of new swimmers who have completed National S14 eligibility for Classification.
Criteria for Intellectual Impairment S14 Class: Athletes with Intellectual Impairment (Autism, Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability with IQ of 75 or lower) should complete Athletes Without Limits Virtus Eligiblity application in lieu of a classification appointment. Swimmers who meet the Virtus II1/Paralympic S14 eligibility criteria below are eligible to compete in Paralympic-sanctioned swim meets:
- IQ Assessment showing IQ of 75 or lower,
- Adaptive Behavior Assessment showing significant limitation in at least one domain area, and
- Onset before age 22
Special note to swimmers with Autism: Athletes with Autism must have an IQ of 75 or lower to be eligible for Paralympic S14 swimming. This is different from AWL trips to Virtus-sanctioned meets, which offer an additional competition group for those with Autism and an IQ of 76 or higher (called Virtus II3) – so we encourage you to apply for eligibility for Virtus events!
Special note to swimmers with Down Syndrome: The Paralympic S14 class is only open to athletes who meet the Virtus II1 Criteria for Intellectual Disability, which is based on IQ and Adaptive Scores. This is different from AWL trips to Virtus-sanctioned meets which offer a separate competition group specifically for athletes with Down Syndrome (called Virtus II2). Therefore swimmers with Down Syndrome should apply for dual eligibility in the Virtus II1 group (based on IQ and Adaptive Scores) in order to be classified for Paralympics swimming and the Virtus II2 group (based on Cytogenetic Report showing Down Syndrome) for Virtus events.
