U.S. Paralympics Calendar: 2021 Desert Challenge Track & Field (Arizona)

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR US ATHLETES WITH INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT PURSUING PARALYMPIC SWIMMING:

U.S. Paralympics partners with Athletes Without Limits (US Member of Virtus) to determine initial eligibility for athletes to enter U.S. Paralympic meets as a Paralympic Class S14 Swimmer with Intellectual Impairment.

To be eligible for Paralympic competition athletes must meet the criteria for Virtus II1 Intellectual Disability: IQ of 75 or lower, Significant Limitations in Adaptive Behavior and Age of Onset before 18.

For athletes with intellectual impairment the Athletes Without Limits/Virtus eligibility application is completed instead of having a National Classification appointment at the event (appointments are only used to classify new athletes with physical or visual impairment since they must meet in person to do so.)

Virtus Groups Eligible for Paralympics:

Virtus II1: Intellectual Disability
To compete in Paralympics athletes must meet the eligibility criteria for the Virtus II1 Group for Intellectual Disability which are:
1) IQ 75 or lower, 2) Significant Limitations in Adaptive Behavior and 3) Onset before age 18.

Virtus II2: Intellectual Disability with Significant Additional Impairment
Athletes with Down Syndrome or other significant additional impairments (who may compete separately at AWL & Virtus events in our Virtus II2 Group) are eligible to compete as an S14 swimmer at Paralympic events (together with II1 athletes) if they provide the required IQ and Adaptive scores with their eligibility application.

Virtus Groups Not Eligible for Paralympics:

Virtus II3: Athletes Autism+ (sometimes called ‘High Functioning Autism’) 
Athletes with Autism who do not meet the IQ and Adaptive requirements for Intellectual Disability above are not eligible for Paralympic Swimming. Virtus II3 athletes may compete at AWL & Virtus World Championships and Global Games.

For athletes with intellectual impairment, Para “Open” events require a minimum of National Level Eligibility Application ($50) to be completed with Athletes Without Limits. Some events (Can Ams, World Series & Paralympic Trials) have higher level entry requirements and qualification times. Athletes who qualify should complete International Eligibility Application ($150) with Athletes Without Limits.

Information about “IPC Licensing & International Classification Appointments” you may see in some meet packets only apply to swimmers who have achieved a Paralympic Team Emerging Time Standard. Typically World Series events offer International Classification appointments for high level athletes.

To apply for eligibility go to: www.athleteswithoutlimits.org/eligibility