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Participating in aquatic group exercises yields benefits beyond physical fitness-it also improves mental health (Ourania, Georgia, Ioannis, & Marina, 2011) and social inclusion (Dolan, 2016). Occupational therapists work with clients to promote health and overcome physical, social and emotional barriers to maximize clients' quality of life (Mitchell & Unsworth, 2004). This article illustrates an example of a student occupational therapist engaging in community practice by identifying barriers to participation through community immersion and forming partnerships with relevant organizations to develop a program that addresses these barriers (Doll, 2010).
Identifying a need through community immersion
As a person with intermittent strabismus, a visual disorder, I volunteered for a support group for older adults experiencing vision loss. One of the topics that repeatedly came up during meetings was the limited number of physical and social activities these older adults have access to. Many of the participants mentioned a desire to engage in exercise, as most used to be physically and socially active. Being an aquafit instructor, I suggested aquafit, also known as water aerobics. One man expressed interest in returning to aquafit classes, but due to his limited vision he was not able to see the instructor. Another woman shared her experience of accidentally hitting another person when she tried aquafit. Many participants expressed interest in aquafit, especially as this activity can mitigate symptoms of other health conditions present in this population, such...