Rising to the Moment: A Family's Journey to Inclusion
Rising to the Moment: A Family's Journey to Inclusion
By Lorena Solis, Mother of Melissa
For our family, the RBAC is not just an aquatics center. It is the place where love, inclusion, and opportunity meet. As we close out the year, I want to share our daughter Melissa's story and why this community means so much to us.
Melissa Solis | Adaptive Private Swim Lessons and Rays Swim Team
Melissa is an extraordinary person who has Down syndrome, and she is the main character of our life story. When she was born, we promised to give her the best tools for her development. Learning to swim was a priority. She has always had a passion for water, which also made me worry about her safety.
Finding an inclusive space was a frustrating journey. I started searching when Melissa turned 2, and doors closed on us in several places before the pandemic put our plans on hold. Then I discovered the RBAC online. Seeing the adaptive swimming section filled us with joy. The RBAC was 28 miles from home, but for Melissa, we would have traveled to the moon.
Melissa had her first swim lesson on July 1, 2022, not knowing how to swim at all. Today, she still attends her adaptive private swim lessons every week. This March, she tried out for the Rays swim team to participate in the Special Olympics and passed her evaluation. We registered her as a Special Olympics athlete the next day, and she had her first official Rays practice on March 13. Today, she is a skilled swimmer earning medals for her effort.
What the RBAC Means to Us
The RBAC was the first place that welcomed our daughter while recognizing her unique abilities and needs. Melissa learned to enjoy the water safely, built deep self-confidence, and now feels like an active, vibrant part of this center. We are grateful to the staff for teaching Melissa, and every person with a disability, with so much love, respect, and dedication.
We keep coming back because the RBAC has become Melissa's favorite place. Her happiness is our top priority, and it fills us with joy to see her affection for the staff, her connection with her teammates, and the way she gives her absolute best in every session.
A Community That Includes Everyone
Over four years, I have watched the RBAC change lives, and Melissa's in a very special way. Even though we don't live nearby, we feel deeply part of this community. They made us feel at home from day one.
What matters most to our family is the RBAC's genuine commitment to inclusion. Its accessible, safe, and empathetic environment lets people with disabilities thrive, gain confidence, and advance at their own pace. From a baby's first splashes, to an older adult staying active, to athletes like Melissa who find personal triumph in the water, the RBAC offers true inclusion for all ages and abilities.
Why Your Gift Matters
Behind every first lesson, every Rays practice, and every instructor who welcomes a new swimmer is a community that makes it possible. Instructors, adaptive programs, pool time, equipment, and financial assistance all help swimmers of every age and ability get started and keep going.
If you believe in the kind of community Melissa found here, I invite you to give before the year ends. Your gift supports the next family walking through our doors.