November 4, 2019 – Charlotte, NC – OPAF was recently notified that First Swim has been selected for another US Masters Swim Grant for 2020. This is the second year in a row that First Swim has been honored by USMS for building their Adult Learn to Swim Program for individuals with limb loss or limb difference. Funding will be used to launch an ongoing program in Orlando.
Additionally OPAF Associate Emma Durante recently attended USMS training in New York City and is now an Adult Learn to Swim instructor, in addition to a First Swim instructor. The full day course was held on Saturday October 19th. The course provided information about the lesson progression to help adults learn to swim. The course also went in depth on helping an adult get acclimated to the water if they are fearful. The course provided a classroom portion followed by a session in the pool where attendees were able to practice all the skills they had learned with a partner. The instructor, Dominic Latella, was able to answer all questions and concerens about teaching an adult to swim. The complimentary course instruction was part of the 2019 grant that OPAF received. Emma will be leading First Swim Clinics in 2020 in Oregon, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Maryland.
