Seattle, Washington (September 4, 2024) – The University of Washington’s Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center (UW HIPRC) is excited to announce the launch of a new Equity in Aquatic Programming Guide, now available for free online. This comprehensive toolkit is designed to promote inclusivity and equity in aquatic programs across various communities.
The toolkit, available here, provides a free guide to essential resources and strategies for creating and maintaining aquatic programs that are accessible and welcoming to all. This initiative aligns with our commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to benefit from aquatic activities.
“We believe it is important that everyone has access to safe and inclusive aquatic programs,” said Dr. Catherine Wolff, Core Faculty Member at the HIPRC. “Our new guide is a significant step in facilitating equity in aquatic programming, offering practical guidance and resources to help organizations create more inclusive environments.”
Key features of the Equity in Aquatic Programming Guide include:
This guide is the result of extensive research, interviews, and work from the Seattle Drowning Collaborative, a group comprised of the UW HIPRC, Public Health – Seattle & King County, Seattle Children’s, and SPLASHForward. The Seattle Drowning Collaborative met with experts in the field of aquatic safety and inclusivity and designed this guide to be a valuable resource for aquatic program coordinators, educators, and policymakers.
For more information about the Equity in Aquatic Programming Guide, please visit here.
About The Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center: The Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center (HIPRC) is a joint initiative of the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center. It is also a CDC-funded Injury Research and Control Center, or ICRC. The ICRC network is funded by the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control to find ways to prevent injury and violence. HIPRC is the only ICRC in the western half of the United States.