In the last 10 years was diagnosed as with high functioning Aspergers syndrome - I believe that's what makes me a stellar swim instructor that can get through to kids on the spectrum

I grew up in Missouri in a small town but had the chance to go to Brazil for six months when I was thirteen. Nobody knew or understood about Aspergers and I realize now that is why I learned Portuguese in two weeks. I did not realize that other people can't do that. (I've also taught myself: Italian, Korean and studied: sign language, French and Spanish). Am currently teaching myself Chinese. Coincidentallly, the reason I got a chance to go to Brazil was because I had attached myself to a young woman who had recently been in the Munich Olympics and swam for Brazil. I continued to swim through college , myself, and ended up starting to teach swimming at our Jewish Community Center. Over the years, I have found that I really connect with the kids (and adults) I teach and it is normal for me to finish and as I get out of the pool, dripping wet, my hair sticking out in all directions, to have the parents rush over to me with tears in their eyes and thank me so emotionally for just that first lesson. Often times, the student I'm to teach for the first time is screaming and convinced that they're in for a horrible time. By the end of the lesson, they're laughing and happy and we've gotten started on getting them to be safe in the water.