Swim and gym program reaches out
By Allison Kowalski
LIFESTYLES EDITOR

For eight Fridays during the fall and spring semesters, Brockport undergraduate and graduate students act as mentors by interacting with students with disabilities from Rochester-area schools.

More than 10 classrooms of children are bused to The College at Brockport from school districts such as Gates, Spencerport, Holley, Greece and Churchville. These students are a part of a swim and gym program, an individualized physical education program, which is hosted by faculty in the physical education and sport department.

The program began in 1966 by Dr. Joseph Winnick, a distinguished professor in the physical education and sport department, with help from Dr. Francis Short, the dean of arts and performances. The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for Brockport undergraduate and graduate students to teach and socialize with students with disabilities. Brockport physical education majors and graduates gain first-hand experience working with disabled children before joining the work force, while students get to participate in fun activities away from the classroom.

However, the greater Brockport community does not know that this program exists said Dr. Lauren Lieberman. Brockport students and students with disabilities in the swim and gym program are truly making a difference in each other’s lives.



“I think it is important we get these programs out,” Lieberman said. “Not many people know about the program.”



Lieberman is a professor in the physical and sport education department,and helps run the swim and gym program. The program also acts as an adapted physical education class, required for physical education majors. Lieberman’s classes host older students, while Dr. Cathy Houston-Wilson’s classes deal with younger students. 



The ages of students partaking in the program range from 5 to 18 years old. The disabilities of these students are a range of autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, Down’s syndrome and speech and language issues. 



Since this program is part of a required class, Brockport physical education majors have to assess the students they are working with and come up with activities and games for them to play. Majors and graduate students work with kids one-on-one, or in small groups in the pool and the Tuttle North and South gyms. This teaching and preparation gives them experience as future physical education teachers. 



“This is their opportunity to work with kids with disabilities,” Lieberman said. “They are our majors. They are our future teachers.” 



Every week there is a new theme for students and leaders to work on. Activities are age appropriate and help improve skills the students need to work on, while Brockport students implement lesson plans.

“I think the swim and gym program is a great service we provide,” Houston-Wilson said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

The visiting students spend one hour in the gym playing games such as basketball, hockey and chasing one another on scooters while the second hour is spent in the Tuttle pool. Students are able to use the entire building, and the gymnastic and hockey coaches readily agree to let them use the gymnastics and hockey rooms’ facilities, Lieberman said.

Some Brockport students, like Michele Sampsell, have been with the program for the undergraduate and graduate level.

“I think it’s a really great opportunity for kids to work with kids of all kinds of disabilities,” Sampsell said. “I think Lauren and Cathy do a really great job.”

Though the program is more than 40 years old, the majority of the elements have been used since day one. One new activity is the communication board for students with autism. The communication boards show pictures of activities students will do. This helps them accomplish activities more easily and effectively.

Visiting students’ teachers see a glow in their students when they go to the swim and gym program. Carla Rodriguez, a teacher in BOCES 2 in Holley, said she sees great amounts of enthusiasm in her students.

“It’s invaluable to these kids,” Rodriguez said. “They love to come. This is just wonderful for them.”

The swim and gym program has truly helped improve the social and skill level of students with disabilities, as well as giving Brockport students the chance to work with amazing kids. Because of the dedication and enthusiasm of students, program leaders, visiting students and their teachers, the swim and gym program has no intention of running out of business.

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