Noel & Michael Pino: it's a family thing

Brothers Michael and Noel Pino, and their family, benefit
from the variety of services and supports Abilities United

Michael Pino dedicates much of his life to taking care of his brother Noel, a big-hearted man in his 50’s who has a developmental disability. Michael has a simple, clear view of how Abilities United fits in with his life. “Abilities United enables a family to function with a normal workday, and enables me to pursue my career.”

How does Abilities United have such a dramatic impact on Michael and his brother? “Noel is at Abilities United every day during the week, and I know he’s in good hands there,” says Michael. Because of this, Michael can go to work. “Noel looks forward to going to Abilities United. Each night he tells me about his friends, and what they did that day.”

At Abilities United, Noel learns life skills like folding clothes or loading a dishwasher. With the help of Abilities United, Noel learned the days of the week. “That was amazing,” says Michael. “I’m very grateful for what may seem to others to be small progress.”

Noel also volunteers at community organizations with a group of other Abilities United participants. They work at 40 organizations including Mitchell Park where they pickup trash, NCEFT and BOK Horse Ranch where they clean stalls and groom horses, and the Humane Society and Marine Science Institute where they feed animals and clean up cages. These activities not only benefit the community; they also give Noel and dozen of Abilities United participants the satisfaction of making a valuable contribution to the community. They also learn important work skills which they may be able to use for employment.

Michael greatly appreciates that Abilities United has not only helped Noel maximize his potential, but that the organization helps families as well. “Early on, they helped me understand how to better understand people with disabilities, and they’ve helped both Noel and me learn how to cope with the challenges. It’s a family thing.”

His advice to other families is simple. “If you’re lucky enough to get into Abilities United, then thank your lucky stars. It’s been great for us.”

The Abilities United staff considers Noel to be an unofficial greeter at the facility, as he is always anxious to welcome visitors. His kind heart and friendly, open nature touches us all.

Based on an interview with Michael and Noel Pino in 2013. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by Michael Pino and Wendy Kuehnl.

Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center hosted a two-day professional ATRI workshop

On February 23 and 24 the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute (ATRI) delivered a national continuing education training, “Professional Development Days” in partnership with the Abilities United Aquatic Services located at the Betty Wright Swim Center http://www.abilitiesunited.org/page.aspx?pid=284 in Palo Alto, California.

February is national heart month in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of non-institutionalized US adults with diagnosed heart disease is 26.5 million and heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans (597,689 deaths in 2010 (1) ; 32% of total deaths from leading causes). Regular exercise is essential to prevent, manage, and recover from heart disease issues and water exercise yields many benefits over other types of physical activity while it also  provides an ideal complement to land workouts. The buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure provided by the water contribute to making the cardiorespiratory system function efficiently with minimal impact on the joints, spine, or feet. In addition, immersion in the fluid medium, especially in a warm-water environment like the pool at the Betty Wright Swim Center, helps everyone relax and feel comfortable at the same level as everyone else.

“Water is the greatest equalizer” was the motto of Betty Wright, the iconic pioneer who founded the Betty Wright Swim Center.  Today her vision is a reality, as the Betty Wright Swim Center team continues Betty’s vision of defying physical gravity and social prejudices alike, especially for those who can benefit the most from exercising in warm water.

Ongoing training of aquatic professionals is necessary to ensure that water therapy and exercise are performed safely and most effectively, so that the health benefits for all patients and participants can be optimized. Earning “Continuing Education Credits” (CECs) is critical to stay abreast of the latest techniques, practices, and treatment plans for successfully working with people who live with a variety of chronic diseases. Professionals are practitioners who are invested in keeping their practice up-to-date through continual educational courses, such as those offered by ATRI. Every year, community health workers invest anywhere between 20 to 100 hours in training, the equivalent to 3-12 full days, to update their clinical and manual skills.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the leading medically aligned health and fitness certifying body, recommends that practitioners obtain CECs by completing college coursework and online training modules and by attending annual conferences and professional health and fitness training offered by clinical organizations, such as ATRI, which do not require pre-approval by ASCM’s Education Department. Practitioners rely on professional training opportunities like the ones offered by ATRI every year to maintain, advance, and refine their skills so they can help people with a variety of conditions live better, exercise safely, and follow a healthy regimen.

“We were thrilled to host ATRI at Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center for the second consecutive year. The  weekend was filled with practical, hands-on training  delivered by some of the nation’s most gifted and creative aquatic therapists, including ATRI’s maverick and leader Ruth Sova, and Beth Scalone, PT, DPT.” – says Rho Henry Olaisen, Abilities United Aquatics Director – “We are now working through the second year in the execution of our strategic plan: ‘Local Therapy Center Today, National Aquatic Health and Wellness Therapy Leaders in 2014’. The opportunity to be selected as one of five sites in the United States for ATRI’s professional development days is a testimony to our work as a national community resource center for learning and sharing best practices. We hosted professionals from throughout the country, who made Palo Alto their destination for a long weekend of learning and exploration of the benefits of aquatic therapy. Traveling to Palo Alto means gathering at the world’s hub, not just of today’s venture capital, but of tomorrow’s health and wellness.”

The two-day workshop covered introduction to aquatic therapy, AquaStretch™ at different levels, post-stroke treatment plan, and progressions for water rehab: vertical, seated, and horizontal applications.
The course was taught by two renowned aquatic professionals: Ruth Sova and Beth Scalone.

Ruth Sova, MS, ATRIC, an internationally known speaker, author and consultant, is the founder of six different businesses including the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute, the Aquatic Exercise Association, Living Right Magazine, America’s Certification Trainers, Armchair Aerobics Inc., and the Fitness Firm. A leader in the health and wellness industry, she also draws on her vast experience as an entrepreneur to teach others what it takes to assume the risk of business and enterprise.

“We have selected the Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center again for our Professional Development Days,”  says Ruth Sova, “because of the unique combination of highly skilled staff at the center, who have provided tremendous help in the past, the warm-water indoor facility, and the specific design of the pool, which is wheelchair-accessible, has zero-depth entry, and allows the flexibility to practice different moves at the shallow, medium and deep end. We look forward to returning to Palo Alto.”

Beth Scalone, PT, DPT, OCS, is an APTA (American Physical Therapy Association)-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and a certified Master Instructor for the Burdenko Institute. She has taught a variety of aquatic therapy continuing education courses. As the owner of North County Water and Sports Therapy Center in San Diego, Beth offers hands-on clinical care in addition to her role as educator. She is an adjunct faculty in the San Diego Mesa College PTA Program, teaching orthopedic rehabilitation and introduction to pathology courses. She also provides the learning module/instruction on aquatic therapy to the University of St. Augustine-San Diego Campus DPT Program. www.waterpt.com

Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center clinical supervisor, Joanna Marsheck, summarized the two-day-long training by noting: “It was refreshing to gather with other aquatic professionals to engage in active learning throughout the weekend. Aquatics expert Beth Scalone presented the AquaStretch™ technique in a user-friendly format, combining classroom teaching of the evidence-based concepts with ample pool time for demonstrating and practicing in the water.“

A sought-after swim instructor in Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center Recreation Program  commented: “The ATRI training was an amazing experience [...] learning about holds and techniques, terms and new ways to think, truly opened my eyes to the world of Aquatic Rehabilitation”. This corroborates our training approach, in which proper cross training enhances learning opportunities for staff and amplifies the health benefits for our participants across programs. Among trainees from other organizations, one remarked, “This [the Betty Wright Swim Center] is a great facility because we have different ways of accessing the pool, which makes it very accommodating to anyone who is in a wheelchair or has other mobility limitations.


About ATRI
The Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute, Inc. (ATRI) http://www.atri.org is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the professional development of healthcare professionals involved with aquatic therapy. Headquartered in Lutz, Florida, ATRI offers continuing education courses at conferences that will advance the knowledge and skills of the aquatic therapist.

About Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center
Abilities United, a Palo Alto nonprofit championing people of all abilities, offers Aquatic Services  in the fully accessible, indoor, warm-water therapeutic pool of the Betty Wright Swim Center. We deliver quality aquatic rehabilitation, fitness and recreation services to individuals of all ages and physical and developmental abilities. People in wheelchairs can easily enter the pool using water-accessible wheelchairs and the zero-depth wheelchair ramp. The recently installed state-of-the-art solar-heating and saline water systems make the water and air environments comfortable for all individuals and ideal for adults and children with a physical disability or a chronic condition such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Staff members participate in monthly, quarterly and annual trainings to stay current on the latest techniques and methods in aquatic fitness, recreation, and rehabilitation. A recognized local aquatic therapy provider today, we operate under a strategic plan to become a national aquatic health and wellness therapy leader by 2014.

Founded in 1963, Abilities United celebrates 50 years of service to the Bay Area community members and continues to be a model of how society can be barrier-free to enable the full participation of people with disabilities and their families. Each year, more than 2,500 people and their families use our training, education and support services. Abilities United is conveniently located in south Palo Alto near the Mitchell Park Public Library, shopping, and public transportation routes.

Aquatics media contacts:
•       Rho Olaisen, Aquatics Director rho@abilitiesunited.org
•       Lucia Panini, Aquatics Marketing and Communications Manager luciap@abilitiesunited.org

   (1) Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm/ and http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_06.pdf

Jeff Byron: transformation, change, and growth since 1969

Jeff Byron, with his wife Debbie, has been involved with
Abilities United since 1969 when his sister was a participant.

Jeff Byron first became familiar with Abilities United in 1969, when his sister, who has a developmental disability, was a participant of the organization. Since then, services for people with disabilities have come a very long way.


“The biggest transformation has been from institutionalization, which was the typical approach until the 1960s, to mainstreaming and inclusion in the community, which is what Abilities United is all about,” says Jeff. “For example, today my sister has a job. Working means so much to her, and it adds value to her life and to the lives of others. Those with disabilities are a vital part of our society.”


In 2002 Jeff become an Abilities United board member, and served as President of the board for two years. “While I was on the board we started Milestones Preschool. It’s critical to identify and start therapy for those with disabilities and introduce children to diversity at the earliest possible age, and Milestones Preschool continues to be one of our most critical services,” says Jeff. “In 2008, we also changed the name of the agency from C.A.R to Abilities United. The name reflects that we’re about abilities, not disabilities; and that we’re about uniting, not separating.”


As is true for most people who have served with the agency, the participants of Abilities United touched Jeff’s heart. “They greet you with so much appreciation and affection,” says Jeff, and it certainly wasn’t just him, these individuals influence the community. “Dave, a participant of Abilities United, was a tall, gregarious guy, who worked at Stanford. He also marched and performed with the Stanford band. He passed away a few years ago, but they still keep a life-sized cut-out of him today in the Stanford band shack. He was big part of the Stanford band.”


Looking forward, Jeff makes an appeal to the community to continue supporting Abilities United. “Government funding has steadily decreased over time, so we really need those who have the means to step-up and provide support,” says Jeff.  “There are more people out there who need our services, and we want to be able to help.”


“The staff and the volunteers help make Abilities United a magical place,” says Jeff. “Their commitment and dedication always warm my heart.”
Based on an interview with Jeff Byron in 2012. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by Jeff Byron and Wendy Kuehnl.

Grant Waldron: inspired by the people he works with

Grant Waldron wears two hats at Abilities United, and both hats help put people with disabilities on the road to independence.

Grant spends half the day in the Adult Day Activities program working with individuals who aren't ready to work or live independently, but who want to learn new social, recreational and vocational skills. Grant primarily works with individuals in the Community Connections volunteer group, who volunteer each day at any one of 40 local nonprofits and other organizations.  As the name implies, through these activities they indeed connect with the community, and learn administrative, maintenance, cleaning, plant care, and animal care skills that they can utilize in other aspects of their lives. “We’ll go out and clean chicken coops, cleanup at the park, and provide other volunteer services,” Grant says. “Each person is so excited, and so proud, to give back to the community.”

The other half of his day is spent with the Independent Living Skills program, where individuals learn life skills needed to live with a greater degree of independence. “I’m so proud of the people I work with,” Grant says. “One of the participants used to be so introverted that I literally couldn’t get a word out of him, but now he’s calling me all the time and – get this - singing in a choir!”

Grant has been at Abilities United for twelve years, and is very proud of the agency’s success. “Local case managers want to place their clients here at Abilities United; they see us as the model for how other agencies should be run.”

Grant is inspired not just by Abilities United, but by the participants as well. “Many of them are so full of happiness and love. Each day I go to work and get hugs! How great is that?”



Based on an interview with Grant Waldroni in 2012. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by Grant Waldron and Wendy Kuehnl.