The first hydrotherapy pool has opened in Bermuda to help young people with multiple disabilities.

The charity committee of property and casualty insurer Allied World Assurance Company Holdings Ltd. donated $70,000 to the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy to make the hydrotherapy room a reality. The room consists of a pool that relaxes overly flexed muscles and serves as support for strengthening activities. It is hoped that long-term working with the students with multiple disabilities in the pool will aid muscular tone and flexibility with minimum stress.

Spearheaded by the Friends of Hope Academy Ltd., a non-profit, charitable organisation, which was established in 2005, the project was funded by the charity committee of Allied World Assurance Company Holdings. At its official opening yesterday Acting Minister of Education, Sports, and Recreation, Dale Butler said: “Community engagement in education is an important factor in helping our students succeed.

“The Government of Bermuda is always grateful when the private sector organisations come to the assistance of our students.”

Located in Devonshire, the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, a government school, opened in September 2003 to provide educational and therapeutic services to students with multiple disabilities.

Nearly a quarter of the 20 students enrolled are medically fragile requiring some form of nursing intervention during school hours. The ages of students range from four to 19.

The Friends of Hope Academy Ltd was started in 2005 to provide further support in developing the school’s improvement plan, curriculum, and extra-curricular activities.

President of Friends of Hope Academy Ltd, Ifor Hughes, is also a father of Gareth, a student at the academy.

Mr. Hughes said: “This hydrotherapy room will provide great practical benefit to students at the Hope Academy and also others in the community that experience multiple disabilities.”

Following the ribbon cutting by Bonnie McGlynn, Principal of the Hope Academy, a clearly relaxed Gareth was the beneficiary of the pool demonstration.

Working with the eight-year-old in the pool were occupational therapist, Tinee Furbert and adapted physical education teacher, Lorie Morbey.

Protocol requires two therapists or teachers per student while in the pool.

Ms. Furbert said: “At first we ease the student into the pool and allow them to get used to the water temperature, which we maintain at 96 to 100F (the body’s temperature).

“The warmer water helps increase the range of motion so we can work on Gareth’s rotation between his upper and lower body.”

Mr. Hughes added: “Gareth does not have strong muscle tone in his trunk, but is extremely tense in his arms and legs.

“The warm water relaxes his muscles so that the therapist can work on his range of motion.”

The excitement and curiosity filled the students as they watched Gareth enjoy the pool conditioning.

“I want swimming trunks to go in,” said an interested student as another pulled up a stepladder with the hopes of entering the pool.