Extremely disheartening and frustrating that this company advertises as a "special needs" friendly facility. We have two on the spectrum--one is more moderate versus the other. "Special needs" swim instructors here at this location are inadequately trained to classify as a special needs swim instructor. My husband has asked me not to come during their swim sessions to avoid getting upset. Our oldest daughter (not on the spectrum) had informed to me that even she was getting frustrated with how their "SN" instructor(s) were speaking to her siblings. Mind you, my husband and I have FIVE kids enrolled in this place--two are special needs... and all are supposedly with private sessions.
Despite my husband's efforts to keep mama bear away, I went... I saw... I was beyond frustrated at what I had witnessed.
There are two pools at this location--side by side. The steps to go inside the pool are in the back end. There are multiple long bench in between the two pools and along the left and right side of the walls. The back end of the facility has an exit door, two bathrooms, and a small area where the swim instructors sit. Neither pools have any lane guards.
Their so-called special needs instructors are usually busy looking around at the entrance of the facility, glancing at the clock, talking to other parents, talking to other instructors. Their facial expressions look like they're annoyed, frustrated for having to repeat instructions, and one in particular stays at least 8-10ft away from my other special needs child. My second SN child is more moderate, limited/nonverbal speech, echolalia, hearing deficits--her instructor lets her do the backstroke practically unsupervised and yells at my daughter to "TURN!" "TURN" "TURN!!!!" right when she is 1-2 ft away from the pool wall. Yes, my daughter has bumped her head on the pool wall multiple times because of the severe lack of INSTRUCTING. Then, she speaks to my SN child as if she's frustrated bc my child didn't turn!
1. We pay for private lessons--there is no reason for any instructor to be so preoccupied looking at other things or people in the facility and not paying attention to our child.
2. SPECIAL NEEDS PRIVATE LESSON. Why is my child doing backstrokes by herself while the instructor is at-minimum 10 ft away from my kid? UNSAFE AND IRRESPONSIBLE.
3. My child has hearing deficits--doing a backstroke... while the instructor is yelling "TURN" 10ft away... and my child is almost a foot away from hitting her head.
4. RARELY do they ever provide any verbal positive reinforcement.
The tone of voice from some of the instructors are rude and unfriendly, in general.
I'm not done unfortunately--while the two instructors left my two kids in the pool to speak with that other parent. My two kids collided--my child doing the backstroke hit my other child on the face/head. My other child that got hurt is special needs--requires UNDIVIDED redirection and multiple instructions repeated bc of his hearing... which is why we paid for PRIVATE sessions. There are NO lane guards at either pools. When there are multiple sessions going on, instructors are constantly yelling at students to "watch your surroundings" or "stay in your lane"... what lane?
How in the world does anyone expect to believe this place has qualified "SN" instructors? It is offensive and rude to advertise this to special needs families and experience this kind of nonsense. I have been a mom for my special needs children for over 13+ years... experienced amazing and horrendous "SN" instructors. I am GLAD that I did not listen to my husband and went to witness this nonsense for myself. He told me to stay away bc he knew I'd be upset. Safe to say that we will not waste another dollar at this place nor any other location associated with Cogua. We have/had five kids (two are SN) and all were private lessons. Moreover, SN families are willing to pay for sessions, if able. I cannot speak for other SN FAMILIES but what I look for is quality, safety, rapport, and the communication standards from every place we go. The quality of the sessions and their so-called SN instructor at this location is a monumental disappointment and should NEVER advertise as a special needs-friendly/qualified swim lessons. I cannot fathom how unsafe some of their practices are here.
They are not listed as an approved vendor for Regional Center in case some other SN parents are wondering.
Positive comments? There is one male instructor here that teaches our oldest child... he is wonderful. Ask for him if you bring your kids here. Another instructor--unfortunately I don't know her name (yet)... but she has dark brown hair, (I think) Caucasian... she teaches our twins. She is great as well--she really pushes our twins, stays beside them, and never lets them off the hook if my twins are slacking or seems like they're giving up. She gives positive reinforcement when due--the same goes for the young male instructor. read more