Remember our First Timer back in January? Well, here she is 3 months later and having a blast interacting with other children and working with our therapist on motor skills.

See more of her and other videos here.

I reached out to Angelfish this past January 2010 to see how their aquatic programs could benefit my daughter Samantha. Sam has special needs and will be six in March. She has been in two other local swim programs (special needs focus) with little success. While she loves the water, in the pool she would just cling to my neck.

During her first therapy session her therapist Cindy explained to me (in an easy to understand way) what was going on with Sam in the water and explained the strategies she was using for Sam to gain a sense of her awareness in the water. While Sam was floating in the water with a bubble and weights on her ankles, she was truly finding her legs in the water. By

the end of her second therapy session, Sam swam on her own with nothing on but flippers! Amazing!
I highly recommend Cindy and Angelfish Therapy to all those who are undecided about what type of aquatic program your child needs. I know that we would have saved a lot of time and money if we started with Angelfish Therapy from the start.

- Chris C

Angelfish Therapy is featuring First and Second Timers during the month of January.  These sessions showcase children with a variety of diagnosis who are experiencing aquatic therapy for the first time.

Beginning Treatment – 2nd Session

In this second visit, this child has already improved from clinging to the therapists neck when she first started. The OT has used rhythmical movements, proprioception, and deep pressure to help the child feel more comfortable in the pool.

As her body awareness improves, she is able to work on extension rotation, prone extension and grasping an object off the side of the pool.

The child’s speech therapist noticed she was more vocal after sessions in pool (she goes to speech therapy after the session).

Ailene, Cindy and Jeff:

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for the wonderful time Marcello, Jamie and I had at camp this year. It was an absolute joy for us to watch my Marcello participate and interact with the others at Camp Angelfish. We had a wonderful time!

Although the weather was much hotter than expected, this year was more memorable than last year. Not only did Marcello slide down the zip line and climbed the rock wall (again!), he made tie-dyed tee shirt, built a bird house, made a tic-tac-toe game and even jumped off the water trampoline! (and so much more!) He had so much fun! One of the best moments was when Jeff called out Marcello’s name for his “Camper Who Always had a Smile on His Face” Award. Marcello could not get out of his own way because of his excitement and, of course, he had to mug for the “paparazzi” with his trophy.

Again, the entire staff was a pleasure to meet and work with. It was great to meet the new counselors as well as get reacquainted with the ones we met last year.

On behalf of Jamie, Marcello and myself, for not letting us leave, please find enclosed a couple of pictures from our adventure this year at Camp Angelfish. They are a testament to how much fun everyone has during that special week and there is a happy story in each one.

We hope to return in 2010 and have even more fun than we had this year. You and your team do great work for these children. You fill them with self-confidence and a desire to strive to do more. Your team encouraged Marcello to try new things and Jamie and I watch him grow with each new experience.

Thank you, again, for a wonderful week and continuing to do the great work you do for and with our special needs children.

Warmest personal wishes,

Gary, Jamie and Marcello

My son Oliver is on the autism spectrum and has been attending Camp Angelfish since its inception. Cindy and Aileen have allowed the camp experience to change as Ollie has matured.

Many years ago it was about providing Oliver with a ‘life skills experience’ with his aide – working on his own self-care and getting an opportunity to try some sports that he would otherwise never have had access to in a nurturing, totally accepting environment.

It has evolved into an incredible social experience with Oliver, looking forward to the ‘dance boat’, participating in life skills/vocational activities by helping in the mess hall, and enjoying being part of a camp that has room for everyone – to grow – enjoy – share – to be who they are. B

Barbara T

My daughter, Cayla, has been attending this wonderful camp since it first started. Cayla has thrived at this camp and tried daring things that she never would have attempted at home; she has gone tubing, she has mastered the zip line, and she has climbed a rock wall.

These experiences have boosted her self confidence and madde her realize just what she is capable of doing. Cayla’s two sisters have gone to camp with her for the last several years and it is the highlight of their summer.

When they come home from Camp Angelfish, their first question is “Can we go back next year?” From the fun activities, to the sing-a-longs, and the bonding experiences that all of the campers, companions, and staff experience, Camp Angelfish is a one of a kind place.

Elaine M

Going to Camp Angelfish instantly became a tradition for our family. It was inclusive of campers and their siblings – keeping us all together. Cindy and Ailene have created a very special place with fun and interesting events in a spectacular setting. We all look forward to Camp Angelfish every summer!

Rory, Aidan, Tess & Nate D

” I can’t begin to thank you, Gina, Javier and everyone else for all the fun, teaching and loving care you’ve showed Andrew over the last year and a half; not to mention your willingness to permit Jack to participate on the mornings my wife had to work.

He is making great strides at school and has been mainstreamed into a regular Kindergarten class, with additional support services. The more we expose him to, the more he tries; the more he tries, the more he achieves; the more he achieves, the more he believes he can succeed.

Our journey is far from over, but I wanted you to know Angelfish has been an inspiration to us. Should you ever have an interested parent who wants to talk to a current or prior parent about the experience, please feel free to give them my name.”
– Scott

“Aquatic Therapy is actually the first therapy that has been fun for my son. He looks forward to it and actually gets his exercise in without even knowing it.

He is very resistant about doing his exercise on land because it is so difficult for him. Through the aquatic therapy program he has even learned how to swim. This is an activity that he can participate in just like everyone else. It is the only sport he can do independently.

The instructors are wonderful.

The therapy is very individualized to your child’s specific needs.

They are very knowledgeable about your child’s therapy needs.

We love the aquatic therapy program and feel it is the best thing we ever did for our child.”
– J.G.

“Aquatic Therapy is a great compliment to land based therapy. There are many things our daughter has learned in the pool first which she couldn’t do on land, such as jumping , hopping, and stair climbing.

The therapists do a lot of stretching and twisting which is difficult for my daughter to participate in on land because it is so uncomfortable. She doesn’t mind doing this in the water. Our daughter’s self- confidence in the water has grown exponentially.

She went from crying during the whole session initially to now almost swimming by herself and being so proud of it. Of course none of this would be possible without such fabulous therapists.

Their ability to motivate children, their deep caring and understanding is unsurpassed. The best thing for my daughter has been finding such wonderful therapists to work with her.”
– A.W.