Swim classes designed for autistic youth
The Autism News | English
Sandy Huffaker for The New York Times
DELAND — Swimming at the YMCA is good for all children, but executives at local Easter Seals and YMCA organizations believe it’s especially good for youngsters with autism.
On Monday, sessions will open to beginning swimmers who need specialized attention.
Lynn Sinnott, president of Easter Seals Volusia and Flagler Counties, says instructors at the DeLand and Port Orange Family YMCAs are now equipped with the adaptive tools and skills to teach youngsters with autism who are 3 to 12 years old.
Parents had asked Easter Seals for swimming opportunities for their children and, since Sinnott knew her organization could not fulfill the requests alone, she approached Teresa Rogers, president and CEO of Volusia Flagler Family YMCA.
To register for the sessions, go to the DeLand YMCA, 761 E. International Speedway Blvd., or the Port Orange YMCA, 4701 City Center Parkway, or visit the YMCA online at vfymca.org for more information. Or for details, call the DeLand Y at 386-736-6000 or the Port Orange branch at 386-760-9622.
Today, as many as one in every 150 children is diagnosed with autism, making autism more prevalent than Down Syndrome, childhood diabetes and childhood cancer combined.
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Sue Backer at 2:45pm July 4
This should be mandatory for all kids on the spectrum. For some reason, the majority of them are attracted to water and I believe that drowning is very high on the list of the causes of the premature deaths of our kids.
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Donna Millard Was Parry at 2:49pm July 4
I was lucky we got our son enrolled in a swimming class on a 1-1 the teacher was great it took over 12 mths .its the best thing we did should be more place like that for our children
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Tracey Hammond at 3:17pm July 4
I wish there was something similar to this in the UK (unless there is & we just haven’t come across it?).
My son was ‘asked to leave’ a group swimming lesson, as they said that he was too disruptive & couldn’t be taught anything
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Chastity Roberts at 3:34pm July 4
My daughter swims during summer school and she learned from her teacher since i cannot swim. She loves water so it’s handy.
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Fran McGowan at 3:37pm July 4
There is a swimming club for autistic kids on a Saturday in Huddersfield which Ryan goes to. I go in with him and he spends an hour mainly messing about with a little bit of swimming. However when he is 8 he will be able to go in with a helper(not me). He does love to swim but he panics without armbands and messes about with them on. The regular swimming lessons didn’t work for him and this group is much better and Im hoping that eventually he will swim properly.
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Cindy Smith Howard at 4:44pm July 4
SWIMKids USA has been great for my son! 1:1 water safety class for 1/2 hour a week, with staff who are skilled with teaching special needs kids.
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Diane Flynn at 5:57pm July 4
i learnt my son to swim
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Erica Waldron Hawk at 7:44pm July 4
Would love for my daughter to take swimming lessons. We live at the ocean and she loves the water but hates pools. Best I can think up is her gravitational and spacial issues on the pool. She’s going to start them as soon as I can find a one-on-one instructor.