Clients in one of the Brown Center’s pools. Photo courtesy of the College of Health and Human Development.

When the Brown Center for Adaptive Aquatic Therapy opened 10 years ago, California State University, Northridge officials knew that the center would positively impact persons with physical challenges, but not to what extent.

“The addition of the Brown Center has had a huge impact on our clients and students,” said Carol Bennett, operations manager of CSUN’s Center of Achievement Through Adapted Physical Activity, which houses the Brown Center. “Positive feedback from those attending the center’s aquatic programs happens on a daily basis. People are excited and motivated with the increased flexibility and endurance they have while in the pool.”

University officials will be celebrating the Brown Center’s 10 years of service to the community on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon with a special reception and tours of the facility. The Abbott and Linda Brown Western Center for Adaptive Aquatic Therapy is located at the northeast corner of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

The Brown Center opened in 2003 as a natural extension of the land-based programs of the Center of Achievement, which has been providing internationally recognized adapted fitness programs for persons with disabilities since 1971. In addition to providing therapeutic exercise programs for individuals with physical challenges, the Center of Achievement also trains students as professionals in health and rehabilitation-related fields.

The addition of the Brown Center provided water-based exercise programs that give even those with serious or chronic physical challenges, including children, freedom of movement with little or no pain. This is primarily due to the buoyancy of water, which provides an ideal environment for the body to function with reduced gravitational stress.

The 18,400-square-foot Brown Center consists of a main 60-foot-by-24-foot heated therapy pool with two underwater treadmills; a 30-foot by-24-foot heated pool with a vertically adjustable floor; a 17-foot-by-10-foot spa aimed at helping those with joint and soft tissue issues; and a 26-foot-by-24-foot activity pool.

CSUN’s Center of Achievement serves about 450 community and student clients each semester, about 295 of which are served by the Brown Center.

While the anniversary celebration is open to the public, attendees are requested to RSVP to becky.obrien@csun.edu by Oct. 16.

To learn more about the Center of Achievement and the Brown Center, visit the website http://www.csun.edu/hhd/kin/capd.html.

Abbott and Linda Brown Western Center for Adaptive Aquatic Therapy, College of Health and Human Development, Physical Therapy