Yawarra Community School: New pool helps kids with disability
Students at Dubbo’s Yawarra Community School have taken their first dips in a new indoor hydrotherapy pool that’s set to transform their worlds.
Dubbo News
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Tyler Shields couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he joined exercise physiologist Nic Grose for his first session in a new $4 million hydrotherapy pool at Dubbo’s Yawarra Community School.
The eight-year-old’s mother Danielle Shields said for children like Tyler, the fully-accessible pool would make a world of difference in their lives.
“When he’s in the pool he’s always smiling, laughing, you can see the joy on his face even when he sees the water,” she said.
“He can’t quite follow instructions so he’s constantly jumping, splashing, changing direction and just moving around.”
Mrs Shields said Tyler has severe autism and ADHD, which can often mean he gets over stimulated and has sensory sensitivities.
She said the pool helped relax Tyler so much that he could easily spend all day in it.
“Tyler’s the most happiest when he’s in the water,” she said. “He lets out these high pitched screams but in a great way, and you hear that and just think ‘oh my god he’s having so much fun’.”
For parents like Mrs Shields, a mother of four, the pool means they no longer have to pay to use similar privately-run facilities and it also helps with juggling the demands of parenthood.
“It will mean I won’t have to go and constantly pick him up, take him there and take him back to school. He can just all get it done at the one place.
“Trying to fit everything in is quite difficult so this will make a huge difference.”
School principal Debbie McCreadie said the pool wouldn’t just benefit the school because it could also be used by other people with disabilities in Dubbo and smaller towns nearby.
“The Dubbo community did have access to a hydrotherapy pool many years ago with Fairview school which was a special school, but it closed back in the ’90s and so when we knew were going to have a special school for Dubbo the community wanted a hydrotherapy pool,” she said.
“For children with physical disabilities it allows them freedom in the water. For a child who requires use of a wheelchair for mobility, to be able to get out of that chair, to move their limbs around in a very safe way is really important.
“For our children with sensory needs, they love water and feel more relaxed in it … it helps them learn to be able to follow instructions.”
The pool was funded by the NSW Government and Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders said 53 local tradies helped build it.
“There is limited access to hydrotherapy pools in the region and the school has plans to deliver programs that support students of the school, other schools in the area and the wider community,” he said.
“This is a project that came about thanks to amazing support, lobbying and resilience from the community so it’s great that the wider community will benefit from it.”