ADAPTIVE SWIM

What is Adaptive Swim?

Adaptive Swim teaches important water safety and swimming skills to youth and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities. Swim lessons are taught by Zoe Lirakis, who is certified in the Swim Whisperers Program® Level 1.

This multi-level Swim Whisperers Certification Program® teaches swim instructors the strategies needed to overcome the underlying challenges faced by their swimmers. This advanced adaptive aquatics training empowers instructors with the required tools to more effectively teach swimmers with anxiety, autism, trauma, discomfort, physical difficulties, sensory issues, motor problems and delays.

For more information about these programs, contact Swim Lessons Coordinator Zoe Lirakis.

Adaptive Swim at the EdgarMay was made possible with funding from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. For more information, go to www.flutiefoundation.org.

FREE ADAPTIVE SWIM FOR YOUTH & ADULTS

The second & fourth Tuesdays of the month from 2:30-3:30PM

Register for a free 25-minute swimming experience to become familiar with the EdgarMay facility, pools, ways to enter the water, and basic water safety skills. This program will be limited to four participants per time slot for adults who need adaptive assistance in the water. Parents should plan to be in the water with their children.

ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS

Adaptive Swim Lessons are 6-week sessions taking place in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Private lessons are available year-round.

The first 2 weeks will be individually scheduled 15-minute assessments with the swim instructor to determine the class level. After the swim assessment, the instructor may decide private lessons are a safer option for the participant. Parents, guardians, or caregivers may be required to be in the water or at the pool edge to assist with the lesson as well.

After the first 2 weeks of assessments, weeks 3-6 will be in group lessons geared towards ability level. We will offer three levels, focusing first on safety skills and then swimming benchmarks.

  • Level 1: For participants who are fearful of water and/or can’t put their face in water but are able to follow simple directions.

  • Level 2: For participants who can be in water but need to learn how to float on their front and back. They will learn to swim under water and begin stroke development.

  • Level 3: For participants who are ready to develop strokes and endurance.

REGISTER FOR ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS

Download this printable Registration Form and return it to zlirakis@edgarmay.org or 140 Clinton Street, Springfield, VT 05156. Or fill out the online form available below.

Zoe Lirakis and the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center are not affiliated with Swim Angelfish, LLC, nor endorsed by Swim Angelfish, LLC or any of its affiliates or members.