The rules of the Channel swim impose that there should only be one swimmer at a time in the water (except in some circumstances like reaching the beach at the end and swapping swimmer in the case of a relay, or a support swimmer at some specific intervals in the case of a solo). Swimmers should follow the boat in the daylight and at night, and are not allowed any assistance. These rules are discriminatory towards visually-impaired people who need to swim with a sighted guide swimmer next to or in front of them, and may need to be guided through tapping (on their shoulder for instance). Asking visually-impaired swimmers to be guided uniquely by sound emitted from the boat is both unrealistic and unsafe because the water and waves make it difficult to hear any noise. We're therefore asking that the rules be changed to accommodate swimmers with special needs, allowing them to swim along a guide and to have reasonable contact and communication. Ideally, the support swimmer would also be recognised as a Channel swimmer, together with the visually-impaired person, as a recognition for their guidance and effort.