"Turn over to float on your back now, Shamae," says physical therapist Bonnie Barr. "You can do it."
The 15-year-old, born with Downs Syndrome, follows instructions, and with a little help performs the maneuver, smiling at her progress.
Rodgers’ mother, Diane, is in the pool watching her daughter reap the rewards of the Therapy and Disability Advocates (TADA) adaptive swimming program at the Estate Nazareth Aquatic Center. She is one of eight youngsters enrolled in the program, which meets Saturday afternoons during the summer.
Two years ago TADA held its first Wellness Fair at Magens Bay, introducing people to alternative therapies available on the island – yoga, massage, reflexology – along with an introduction to healthy eating, health lectures and live music. The fair, now an annual affair, repeated this April with lots of volunteers and lots of donations.
TADA President Eileen Short says the advocates grew out of the V.I. Therapy Association.
"The association was really more of a social network," Short says. "It was Jacqueline Watson who really founded TADA, along with Kelly Krause. They really got us organized to do something together for the community."
Watson, it turns out, is off island this week. However, Short, a familiar face to anyone in the wellness community, is happy to talk about the group. Short worked as a physical therapist at Horizon Physical Therapy. She is now director of Rehabilitation Services at the Schneider Regional Medical Center.
"We have about 20 members now, and a four-member board," Short says. "Most are therapists — physical, occupational and speech — but we have volunteers who back us up in other areas like events planning.”
There are a lot of needs, she says.
"The community is so underserved,” Short says. “People with disabilities are in need of equipment – wheelchairs, walkers, bathing equipment, splints – things to make moving about the home more comfortable and efficient, and to help caregivers. Our goal is two-fold: One, to raise public awareness to the needs of the disabled who need therapy and equipment, and two, of course, to raise money for those needs."
The group, founded in 2006, has made significant strides in both directions. It established a V.I. Disability Fund to provide essential pieces of equipment to the disabled and to enhance their independence or prevent deformities, along with a home makeover program.
At 18 months old, De’Quanni Donavan was the first recipient of the advocacy’s home makeover program last year. Watson had met the infant as his occupational therapist. She recognized that therapy would be limited by the family’s living conditions and lack of resources.
It was situations like this that inspired Watson to found the organization, Short says.
"We rounded up donations from local companies and from volunteers to make a functional living space for therapists to treat him and provide adaptive equipment for the his development,” she says.
Two years ago the group held its first Wellness Fair at Magens Bay, which repeated earlier this year. It introduced folks to alternative therapies – yoga, massage, reflexology – along with information on healthy eating, music and exercise classes.
Meantime, the Saturday afternoon class moves along swimmingly at the shallow end of the pool. Diane Rodgers is delighted with her daughter’s progress.
“The doctors told me she wouldn’t live past 10 years,” Rodgers says. “She’s in the 10th grade now."
Schmae is now doing speech therapy in the water, humming.
"This allays the fear," Short says later. "Humming is very centering."
Four adults soon take to the water, exhibiting as much enthusiasm as the youngsters. One man in the middle of the action moves his legs as Barr instructs him.
"Are you holding the rail?" she asks.
"No, I’m holding your hands now," he answers, "Whooeee!"
Barr, Short and physical therapist Cherie Ward are led in their work by TADA Aquatic Specialist Linda Dugan, who lopes around the pool like a waterbound gazelle, keeping track of all the action.
Next on the agenda is adaptive horseback riding. The group has teamed with Lynn Utech of the horse-rescue program at Wintberg Riding School to provide hippotherapy. Short explains the term refers to the multidimensional movement of the horse. It’s from the Greek word "hippos," which means horse.
Specially trained therapists will work with the patients and Utech to apply the therapy. It’s a first for the group. It starts Saturday and will run throughout the summer.
Information about the events can be found at http://www.vitherapyassociation.org/staff.htm.
