Martinsville Mondays:
more than a swimming instructor
Bailey Sharp
As a parent of a child with autism, we are often faced with many day-to-day challenges. Some of these challenges can be lifelong, while others come with milestones that bring a different kind of joy. One built on determination, resilience, and love.
Something that has weighed heavily on us since her diagnosis is the desire for her to learn how to swim. Drowning is a leading cause of death for children with autism. They are 60 times more likely to die from drowning than the general pediatric population, with accidental drowning accounting for a vast majority, roughly 70%–91%. With such a staggering statistic, concern for your child’s safety becomes more than just a worry; it becomes an everyday fear, especially when they love the water as much as our daughter does. She lacked fear and understanding of bodies of water and would be drawn to them the moment they were in sight. Without warning, she would try to take off toward the water. Because of this, swimming lessons quickly became a top priority for us. However, one of the biggest challenges we face is communication. Conversations with our daughter look very different, as she has been nonverbal for most of her life. While her time in speech therapy has given her a voice, there are still communication skills that continue to develop.
Because of that, we were understandably skeptical about finding someone who could truly understand Delilah. Someone who could meet her where she is and help her grasp not just the skill of swimming, but the importance of water safety.
Our search led us to the Martinsville YMCA, where we found the answer we so desperately needed: Bailey Sharp.
We walked through those doors and stood face-to-face with both the water and the uncertainty of not knowing if this would work but knowing we had to try something. We needed to quiet the fear and give our daughter a chance to understand the water she loves, so she doesn’t become a part of that growing statistic. What we didn’t know in that moment was just how much that decision would change us.
Bailey began offering private swim lessons at just 16 years old, turning a lifelong passion into something that now impacts families like ours in ways that go far beyond the pool. While she may not consider it a formal business, what she provides is nothing short of life-changing. Her one-on-one swim instruction is tailored to individuals of all ages and skill levels, including those with disabilities, and is built on a foundation of trust, comfort, and genuine care.
For Bailey, the water has always been more than just a place to swim—it’s been her happy place. After years of competing with the local YMCA swim team and through USA Swimming, she discovered not only her love for the sport, but her desire to share it. She understands that swimming is more than a skill: it’s a lifelong form of safety, confidence, and freedom.
What stands out most about Bailey isn’t just her experience or knowledge, it’s her heart. She doesn’t measure success by perfect strokes or technique alone, but by the moments when fear turns into confidence, and uncertainty transforms into joy. She spoke about how her proudest moments aren’t defined by one single achievement, but by a collection of meaningful experiences, watching swimmers find comfort in the water, seeing their confidence grow, and building connections that turn strangers into friends, and eventually, into family.
That word—family—resonates deeply with us, because that’s exactly what this experience has become.
Since those first uncertain steps, we’ve left every session with a growing sense of pride in our daughter. While the fear may never fully go away, it has been replaced—piece by piece—with confidence, trust, and a sense of safety we didn’t have before.
Bailey has shown up for Delilah in ways that go far beyond teaching her how to swim. She has become one of her best friends, someone Delilah connects with in a way that is hard to put into words. She has made her feel seen, heard, and truly understood and for our family, that means everything.
Bailey’s approach aligns perfectly with the legacy she hopes to leave behind: one rooted in confidence, safety, and lifelong impact. She wants every swimmer to leave not only with the ability to navigate the water, but with the courage to trust themselves in unfamiliar situations. She emphasizes that it’s never too early or too late to learn how to swim, a message that holds powerful weight for families like ours.
For us, this journey has been about more than just swimming lessons. It’s been about peace of mind. It’s been about replacing fear with hope. It’s been about watching our daughter grow in ways we once worried might not be possible.
Bailey didn’t just teach Delilah how to swim, she gave her confidence in the water, and she gave us something even greater: reassurance.
Bailey is more than a swimming instructor
In a world where so many challenges can feel overwhelming, having someone who understands, adapts, and truly cares makes all the difference.
Bailey Sharp has been that person for our family, and her impact is something that will stay with us for a lifetime.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned through this experience, it’s this:
finding the right person can change everything.
Thank you, Bailey!
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