Memorable Moment at Swim 4 All - June 2010

Last week at the pool I found out that a lovely family who bring their severely disabled child for swimming lessons just lost their new baby.
The sadness of this is heartbreaking.
This week I looked across at the couple and saw them laughing. Intrigued, I went to see what had amused them so, and found them entertained by the antics of one of our most difficult clients. A teenage Downe Syndrome boy who has made a fine art out of procrastination. The frustration of Swim 4 All staff in trying to get this able bodied boy to cease with his endless excuses and just get on with swimming at least provided some light relief to someone who desperately needed it.
There is a place for everything!

Memorable Moment at Swim 4 All 1 - 2009

A normally reserved mum of a Autistic child standing up on her chair yelling, "Look everyone, my child is swimming," as her child dogpaddles from the teacher towards her. Then she turns to me and says, "I never actually thought she would be able to learn to swim."
Funny, being the swim school owner it was always my intent to have the child swim, but the expectations of parents of children with a disability are not like those of neurotypical children, and the joy of seeing them celebrate any success is truely wonderful."