My Autistic Perspective on the Lack of Special Needs Support in City-Run Recreational Programs
Too bad my cousin lives on the other side of the country, as she was a great swimming instructor.
"If you want to learn how to swim, jump into the water. On dry land, no frame of mind is ever going to help you." - Bruce Lee
An area I feel is lacking when it comes to city-run recreational programs is adequate accommodations for the disabled. I've been attending civic swimming lessons at the local aquatic centre for weeks, and despite disclosing my autism to the instructor from the get-go, I haven't received any accommodations to date.
In fact, when I recently asked the instructor if she could provide a brief demonstration of the back crawl for me, which is a technique I had yet to learn, she just pointed to another student practicing it and told me to watch him. This was extremely frustrating, as I feel I didn't pay to learn swimming by watching my fellow classmates. I need more direction to fully understand the task.
Despite my understandable disappointment, I can't entirely fault this instructor, as she's a teenager in high school, who primarily works with young children. Teaching adults requires a completely different approach, which is further complicated when you add one grown-up autistic student into the mix. I imagine the skills needed to properly assist learning disabled students are acquired in university psychology programs, as well as via life skills that come in the years following adolescence.
That is not to say that teenagers cannot successfully teach skills to others. When my younger cousin was a teenager, she provided me with some very helpful swimming lessons. However, she was aware of my disability since she was a little girl, understood my quirks, and had the patience and understanding to help me.
Back on topic. Firstly, I must ask why the city would hire teenagers to teach adult swimming classes? Is this a cost-saving measure, as all the instructors are also lifeguards at the aquatic centre, and as such, already under the city's employ?
Secondly, why wouldn't the city offer additional swimming programs aimed at disabled students, with qualified instructors for this demographic? Does it all come down to saving money, or is there simply a lack of suitable candidates up to the task? The aquatic centre also offers private lessons, but they're quite expensive and taught by the same teenaged instructors.
There was another fitness complex in town that also offered adult swimming lessons, as well as private ones. Unfortunately, the building was bought by a big real estate company and its recreational facilities, such as the pool, were closed to the public. It would've been nice if there were a YMCA in town, as they may offer good accommodations for the disabled. Unfortunately, this small city already has various gyms and the aquatic centre, so there just isn't the need or demand for a YMCA here. I feel we need an alternative facility that can accommodate the needs of the disabled.
There are many benefits to relocating from a big city to a smaller one. Unfortunately, one of the downsides is the population not being considered large enough to invest in programs for those of us with disabilities. I wonder if the city would be open to dedicating a block of time at the aquatic centre for, we, the disabled, to have the pool to ourselves? If so, perhaps we could hire and bring our own qualified support workers to teach us how to swim? I'm not sure who I could talk to and raise these concerns with, but I may investigate. At least I have a new goal to add and check off my to-do list. Until next time, love, peace, and chicken grease.