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Adult Medical Day Participant :Tresaraie Shavers |
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Heated Therapy Pool Empowers Swimmers with Disabilities to Go For the Gold
Tresaraie Shavers, a participant in The League's Adult Medical Day Care program with multiple disabilities is preparing for her first entry into the Special Olympics summer games. Bound for Special Olympics stardom – she'll open the games by singing the Star Spangled Banner - Tressie's final week of preparation will take place at The League's heated therapy pool – where she learned to love the water.
Tressie, who is also a poet, ceramics artist and painter, has already won 2 silver medals for swimming since working out in the Hecht Therapeutic pool. “Big people can do awesome things,” Shavers likes to say. However, according to former aquatics instructor, Gail Williams Glasser, Director of Risk Management at The League, “there was a time when Tressie simply refused to get in the water. She has come a very long way! I'm so proud of her!”
Each February, The League for People with Disabilities welcomes the Baltimore Special Olympics swim team and those who are interested in joining, as they begin training for the competitive event in the therapeutic pool's 92- degree water. This year, Tressie decided to try-out for the team. Surrounded by coaches and League life-guards trained to work with individuals with special needs, the swimmers – many of whom are first-timers, are encouraged by the nurturing environment and warm water, according to aquatics coach and League volunteer, Phil Wetzler. Wetzler, who is also the coach of the Baltimore Special Olympics swim team and a League Board member adds that “once the swimmers finish their training at The League, they are ready for the more competitive environment at Meadowbrook, where they complete their ‘official' training for the Special Olympics games.”
Tressie has an added advantage in that she is a participant at The League for People with Disabilities, with easy access to the NE Baltimore non-profit's large therapeutic pool. In addition to preparing her for the event, Tressie adds “the warm water in the pool alleviates pain in joints and enables easier breathing.” All League participants have free access to the League's unique accessible therapeutic pool and fitness center.
League CEO, David Greenberg admits that “many of The League's participants – be it those enrolled in our Autism after-school program, Vocational Services, Adult Medical Day Care or Day Habilitation, enroll in our programs because they have access to our therapeutic pool and fitness center – which is open to people at all levels of ability but specially designed to be accessible to people with disabilities.” For more information about The Wellness Center's therapeutic pool and fitness center call 410-323-0500 ext. 314.
The League for People with Disabilities offers individuals the opportunity to gain independence, to increase self-sufficiency and to improve quality of life.
Toast to The League May 2,2009
Awards Dinner Photo Gallery
Annual Fur Sale
November 21, 2009
Annual Blood Drive July 29, 2009
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