Make a big splash in the lives of individuals with special needs. Your gift will have a lasting impact for toddlers through adults helping them gain:
- Safety procedures in and around water
- Mastery of swimming skills and strokes
- Knowledge of aqua therapy exercises
- A lifetime wellness activity
- Self-confidence
- Preparation for participation in Special Olympics Swimming
Recently, I had the good fortune to observe a group of sixteen special needs young adults departing from a local YMCA. Fourteen of the members had been Big Splash students during their middle and high school years where they each had learned to swim well. In this group, I recognized nine that participated in Special Olympics and had been multiple medal winners, as well as five that continue to participate yearly in swimming events at the state Special Olympics competitions. They were gleefully talking about their swim for the day, helping each other to remember their swim bags, and holding doors for those who needed assistance. With pride and humility I realized that I was seeing the culmination of the Big Splash program goals with individuals confidently enjoying a lifetime wellness activity.
Making Future Waves…
Goals of Big Splash, Inc.:
- To consult and train special education classroom teachers, para-educators, physical educators, and volunteers to teach adapted instructional swimming and aquatic therapy skills beginning for schools of Dickinson County, Iowa, then expanding state wide and nationally
- To provide Big Splash programming for local special education classrooms of the Dickinson County Schools at the Bedell Family YMCA
- To design a training course for special education teachers, para-educators and physical educators to have continuing education credits through a local college and/or AEA (Area Education Agency)
You can make real differences. Please, find below a donation card that can be printed and sent with your gift.
