A swimming pool is being rented in Mykolaiv for free rehabilitation of children with autism

Children training in the pool. Photo: Mykolaiv City Council

The Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Mykolaiv City Council rents a diving pool at the «Vodolii» complex, where children with autism can train for free. This option costs the budget 8.3 million hryvnias.

The head of the department, Iryna Bondarenko, said this during a meeting of the budget committee on 23 December, according to NikVesti.

According to her, the pool is used not only for diving. It is the basis for a comprehensive children's and youth sports school «Ukraine», which has three departments — synchronised swimming, swimming and diving.

«Almost 50 people are trained here, including children with autism, war veterans and their families. The pool is open all the time and is actually overcrowded because we use it for rehabilitation. All classes are free of charge, we have signed a memorandum,» said Iryna Bondarenko.

She emphasised that working with children with autism requires significant physical and psychological effort from the coaches, so they are provided with additional allowances.

«t's hard for coaches to work, so we pay them extra for the complexity and intensity. They literally «break their arms» — you understand what it is like to work with autistic children,» the official explained.

It is noted that the city administration rents only a 25-metre diving pool. There are no swimming lanes there, but its size and capacity allows for swimming.

Earlier it was reported that residents of Mykolaiv region, even without disability status or participation in hostilities, can undergo free medical rehabilitation. The service is available to anyone with the appropriate medical conditions, both adults and children.