The newest North Carolina office of Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, headquartered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, hosted a First Swim Clinic October 22 at the Johnson YMCA facility in Charlotte.
First Swim was led by three-time Paralympic swim champion, Jason Wening, CPO, and assisted by amputee tri-athlete, Mabio Costa. Six people participated in addition to Wening and Costa. Several Ability staff and volunteers were also part of the clinic, including Amy Street, CPO, Brian Kaluf, CPO, and Spencer Wolinsky,CPOA, bringing the total of those attending to more than 20 people.
Participants came from statewide, from the Asheville area to Winston-Salem as well as local Charlotte residents. Ability also welcomed JJ Godbey, the YMCA aquatics director and Jana McMullen with the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department.
Swimmers were given one-on-one and group help and instruction, in the water and from the pool deck. Participants were orthotic patients, prosthetic patients with upper- and lower-limb differences, and spinal cord injury patients.
“Great program and great instructors,” said Susan Collins, parent of Julia Grace, a wheelchair participant who gained greater confidence in the water. “Great clinic! A lot of fun. We need to do this more than just once a year.”
