Over 25 Years in the Game
Why I Created Specialty Aquatic Programs
By Nicole Scherbarth, Founder & Director
Specialty Aquatic Programs began with a simple truth: not everyone was being served in aquatic programming. As an aquatic therapist working in the community, I saw children and adults with unique needs being overlooked in traditional learn‑to‑swim settings. Many programs relied on minimally trained instructors and lacked the certifications needed to support inclusive learners safely and effectively.
As a boy mom of four elementary‑aged and tween boys, I also felt a deep personal concern. One day, they would swim without me. Would they recognize an unsafe water situation before they entered it? Would they know what to do if something went wrong? Their safety — and the safety of so many others — weighed heavily on my heart.
I pitched the need for adaptive and inclusive swim lessons to community recreation centers and boutique schools. Every proposal was denied. But the need was undeniable, and I couldn’t let it go.
That concern became purpose. That purpose became action.
I began designing a fully inclusive swim school rooted in love — for my boys, for the swimmers being missed, and for every individual who deserves to feel safe and confident in the water. As a Montessori mother, I partnered with my sons’ teacher to create the S3 Montessori Swim Curriculum, blending Montessori methodology with therapeutic principles. Our approach meets swimmers exactly where they are, helping them build a lifelong love of the water while learning to make smart, functional decisions in real‑life aquatic situations.
I often say, “I have an aquatic therapy private practice… and an unintentional swim school.” I never set out to run a swim school — but the gap was too big, and too many learners were falling through it.
So we built a truly inclusive swim school — now approved by USA Swimming — that welcomes all kinds of learners, especially the unique ones. And to honor the word specialty, it was essential that every program we offer — from Aquafit to Therapeutic Aquatics to Special Needs Programming — be led by highly trained, certified professionals.
Today, Specialty Aquatic Programs is more than aquatic therapy and more than a swim school. It’s a movement — one that believes every body belongs in the water.
Our Mission
To create inclusive, ability-centered aquatic experiences that empower individuals of all ages to thrive in the water—through therapeutic support, adaptive swim education, and community-based programs led by highly trained professionals.
We believe the water should be a place of healing, safety, and joy for every body.
Who Are We?
Our team is a vibrant blend of land‑based and aquatic professionals — teachers, recreational therapists, aquatic therapists, program graduates, and passionate swim enthusiasts. Together, we bring a wide range of expertise and a shared commitment to making the water a place where every ability can thrive.
Our Alumni Staff
Thank you to the staff who have been with us since the very beginning. And thank you to our former staff who helped to build our truly special programs.