07/01/2025
A couple years ago, I held some special needs swim clinics. I had some success at the first one, but it was the last one that is one of the best moments of my *entire* teaching career. A young man in a wheelchair came to the pool. He had been told he’d never swim. Because of his condition, his center of buoyancy made it difficult for him to stay upright in the water. Life jackets only made the problem worse. I spent a couple hours with this young man and his wife. By the end of the clinic he could swim across the pool, with a floatation device more suited to his needs, unassisted. He was in the water crying, his wife was on the deck crying, his mother was on FaceTime *sobbing*, and my cheeks were damp but it wasn’t because I was in the pool. Teachers will understand “ah-ha moments”. This was one I could never have prepared for, even if id known it was coming. Swim and water safety skills literally save lives and I gave that to someone who was told he could never have it.
I absolutely love teaching aquatics and am so grateful for those families and the community that have continued to support me. The last two years have been a chaotic mess, but so many of you have stuck with me through much of it. I have always felt that what I do is a service and have tried to give back when and where I can in that capacity. In that vein, I want to offer free private lessons to differently-abled students. I have been teaching swim classes off and on for thirty years. My success rate is unheard of. I specialize working with those who have water trauma and those with special needs.
Please share this post. I will be in Maysville over the summer and will take as many students/week as my schedule allows on a first-come/first-served basis.
I am on vacation this week, but will be back next week. I’m trying to get back to those who’ve called and texted as I can. Feel free to text with questions at:
1 (614) 385-3334
