The Family Y expects to have the Kathryn M. York Adapted Aquatics Center built in 2010. In the meantime, several adapted aquatics classes meet in the pool in the main building of the YMCA and have for years.

The gym offers a multiple sclerosis aquatics class and a Parkinson's aquatic class, among others. Claudia Collins has been teaching the classes for six years and tailors them to needs of her students. In the case of multiple sclerosis, it has been shown that exercise slows down the progression of the disease, Ms. Collins said.

Mark Bairas has been exercising in the multiple sclerosis class for four years. The twice-weekly classes maintain his range of motion and muscle strength and help with his balance, he said. Water's buoyancy places less stress and impact on the body's joints.

"You can do stuff in water you can't do on land, that's for sure," Mr. Bairas said.

The classes also offer community.

"It's kind of like a little support group, too. We get together and talk about what is going on (in our bodies)," he said. The multiple sclerosis group likes to meet for lunch after class once a month.

"It makes a big difference knowing someone's in your boat," Ms. Collins said.