Lake Co. YMCA offers Enrichment Classes

The Lake County Family YMCA in Vernon Hills offers several classes for children with special needs. This is a feature about one such child.

You could say Kelly Smith wanted what many moms want for their child: that he learn how to swim.

Joel had a stroke shortly after he was born, resulting in weakness on the right side of his body, especially his arm.

Smith was determined to keep Joel active.

“I saw something about special-needs programming on the local cable channel about four years ago and have been coming to the Y ever since,” she said. “The program has been excellent.”

Now 7, Joel has been doing enrichment classes at the YMCA. These classes have helped him advance, his mom said. “He loves coming to the Y, and it's really convenient for us since we live nearby.”

“We're fortunate that a program is offered for special needs. The instructors are marvelous. Consistency for children with special needs is really important. We've been with Tim (the instructor) now quite some time and have been very lucky.”

At a school meeting for first grade, the social worker asked Kelly about Joel's swimming. “I told her,” Smith said, “that the swimming program at the Y is the best-kept secret. We've been so pleased with it. There's really nothing like the Y with the swimming and enrichment classes.”

“I've shared my success story with the Y with other moms. When you find something that works, parents have to network together to help each other,” Smith said.

We say that Kelly and Joel know the YMCA is a place where everyone is valued and engaged to the best of their abilities.

The Lake County Family YMCA is a cause-driven nonprofit that strengthens the community through programs and services that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Founded in 1892 as a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit, our association is comprised of the Central Lake YMCA in Vernon Hills, Northern Lake YMCA in Waukegan and Early Head Start in Waukegan.