To a child in your neighborhood, the water in a pool or at the beach is nearly irresistible. For some, it could be a fatal attraction. And if that child has special needs, she may not be equipped with the skills other kids have learned in Y swim lessons. That’s where the Studer Foundation has stepped in.
Thanks to a grant received from the Studer Foundation, our Y is now offering private aquatics instruction to children with special needs who may not be successful learning in our typical group setting.
For 3-year-old Dillon Wilbert, the water is now becoming a place to learn and play, thanks to the one-on-one time he has with seasoned swim instructor Bonnie Steffensmeier. After his first lesson, his mother said she was pleased with how he was able to stay in the water for the entire 30 minute lesson and not get distracted. The techniques that Bonnie used were effective at keeping him engaged and focused.
Dillon is one of three children currently being served in this new grant-funded program. If you have a child or know a child who would benefit from this program, email Aquatics Director Kristin Strickland. We are excited to welcome special kids into the water!
Families of children with special needs already face financial hurdles to provide their children with opportunities and therapies that will give them the best possible chance of success. Although swim lessons may not seem like a priority, we believe that water safety is a skill that benefits all children. In a community surrounded by water, we know that water safety skills can help prevent families from experiencing the tragedy of drowning. In addition, our experience indicates that the water is often a place where children with special needs can thrive, a place of peace and joy – with the right approach.
Through this grant, we are offering Safety Around Water (SAW) to children with disabilities with two goals: 1) teaching a life skill that can prevent a family from facing the tragedy of drowning; and 2) increasing a sense of achievement by overcoming a fear of the water and mastering skills in the pool.
The grant will allow us to support 25 children through the SAW curriculum. Many thanks to our friends at the Studer Foundation for recognizing the need for this program and making it possible.