By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – City lifeguards and swim instructors Judah Abusalah and Charla Hamann were recognized during the Sept. 8 city council meeting for their patient and kind work with an autistic, non-verbal boy.
City Council President Michael Sareini said the boy, who has special needs, is strongly drawn to water, so learning to swim has been important for his well-being.
“For the past two years, Judah and Charla have gone above and beyond to understand his individual needs, adapting their teaching methods and patiently helping him build skills that once seemed out of reach,” he said. “Earlier this summer at one of our pools, all of the hard work came together, and he swam independently across the deep end of the pool and became tired, and at that time he calmly turned toward the nearest wall and swam to it and pulled himself to safety, exactly what he was taught during the program through our lifeguards.”
Sareini said that for the boy’s family, it was far more than a swimming milestone, because he had learned skills that could one day save his life.
“Judah and Charla represent public service at its very best,” he said.