Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Wesley.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Adrienne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been a lifeguard and WSI (water safety instructor) since I was 17. It’s always been my job outside of Special Education. I started viewing swimming as a therapeutic method after an Occupational Therapist recommend my son partake in swimming to help with his ADHD. While digging in and doing more research on the benefits of swimming for kids with ADHD, Autism quite naturally came up as well.
At the time, I was working with Autistic children in both educational and therapeutic settings. During that time, research began to reveal that drowning was the number 1 reason of death for children with Autism. That prompted me to start an adapted swim lessons program.
Being a swim instructor landed me in the world of competitive swimming. I’ve been in competitive swim world as a coach now for four years.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Is has been a smooth road minus the lack of availability pool space in Atlanta well downtown Atlanta. I think once the vision was given to me preparation meet opportunity and things took off from there.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Swim Life Fitness – what should we know?
Swim Life Fitness is designed to expose individuals to aquatic exercise, water safety, swim lessons, water aerobic, and adaptive aquatics. I specialize in adapted aquatics. The uniqueness about adapted aquatics is specializing in personalized swim lessons for people with Autism and related disorders, Down syndrome, mental health disorders, and physical impairments. I am proud to be a black one business that specializes in areas that are not as popular in our community. I am excited about the partnerships and endorsements I’ve been able to obtain in order develop and implement programs in our community for the community.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have a business partner Dr. Asherah Allen founder of “Black Girl Swim” We both work together providing access to swim lessons in the black communities across the U.S. We have a new podcast launch Spring of 2020 called “The Swim Culture” were we talk all things aquatic from leisure to social justice.
As a competitive coach, I would shout out Atlanta Public schools where I’m currently the Head Coach at Grady High School, I’m the founder and head coach of Howard middle school (Old Inman Middle), Head Coach summer league Inman Park, and age group coach for USA Swim Club Dekalb Aquatics under Head Coach Melissa Wilbourn.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.swimlifefitness.com
- Email: swimlifefitness@gmail.com
- Instagram: SwimLifeFitness
- Facebook: SwimLifeFitness
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