BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Florida leads the nation in child drownings. We are surrounded by beautiful bodies of water and it’s why swim safety is more than a story. It’s a priority for us.
In this “Swim South Florida” story, Local 10’s Nicole Perez has introduced us to a mother of a child who has special needs and is learning about water safety.
Maria Nikanovich and her family are from Belarus, but her message resonated with people all over the world. Teach your children how to swim, especially those with special needs.
“My son he was born so early on at 29 weeks. He has cerebral palsy. Miroslav can’t walk on his own,” said Nikanovich.
Miroslav is eight years old and while we continue to spread the message of teaching your children to swim, the goal for him was not that.
Ivan Capalbo us Miroslav’s swimming instructor at the YMCA. He said after Miroslav was able to stand and walk in the water, his father then asked if it was possible to now teach him to swim.
“I said yes of course! Got to it right away capable of swimming 7 entire lengths of the pool which is 150 yards,” said Capalbo.
The lessons are part of the Swim Buddies program. It pairs children with special needs, with an experienced swim instructor to help them learn to swim.
“You know when I saw my son make a first step in a water independently, my heart made a flutter. I’m crying because we made it everything that he walked independently,” said Nikanovich. “You know it was my dream a long time I saw these dreams you know I see his eyes he said mama look, look I’m walking. I’m walking in the water.”
Tongela Milton of the YMCA said they are the largest provider of childcare services in South Florida and the largest provider of special needs services.
“We have a special needs program inclusive adaptive sports disabilities play with regular, so they feel included and not isolated,” said Milton.
Capalbo works with special needs children regularly and he has a message from parents who think it’s just not possible for their children to learn how to swim.
“Nothing is impossible. With enough time and dedication and effort just perseverance everything can be done,” said Capalbo.
Miroslav’s parents are a testament to that.
“Everyone comes to tell him good job you can do it and every time we see the big progress because he does better and better every time,” said Nikanovich.
Even Miroslaw’s twin brother is behind him 100 percent.
“When he was first in the water I was scared, and I was close to him, so he doesn’t drown and I was like a bodyguard, so he didn’t drown,” said his brother. I need to always push him to walking and swimming because he is lazy.”
Nikanovich is so greatful to the YMCA for giving her son the courage to not only learn how to stand and walk in the water but also to swim, she wrote a letter expressing her gratitude.
“Miroslav who has special needs has developed strong trust in Ivan and is no longer afraid of the water. I’ve noticed significant progress in my son Miroslav can’t walk on his own he has begun to walk independently in a pool. Thank you for a wonderful job and thank you for doing this with him,” said Nikanovich.
For more information about the Swim Buddies program, click here.
For more information about swimming lessons at the YMCA visit:https://ymcasouthflorida.org/swim-lessons/.
The Florida Department of Health in Broward provides free swim coupons to residents, along with a new lifeguard and swim instructor scholarship program to help fulfill the swim instructor shortage.
For more information, visit watersmartbroward.org.
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Swim South Florida consists of public service announcements and news stories that will air on Local 10 News and across all our digital platforms.