This is a paid piece from SafeSplash Swim School.
Simplified: Not all kids thrive in a group setting when it comes to swimming lessons. SafeSplash's adaptive aquatics program meets kids on their terms to teach them water safety in a calm, one-on-one environment that caters to any special sensory or behavioral needs.
Why it matters
- Water safety is a critical skill for all kids, but swimming can be a challenging skill to acquire for kids who have sensory processing disorders, autism, or who are fearful of water. SafeSplash Director of Adaptive Aquatics Lea Johnson, a licensed occupational therapist, and her team are equipped to help them all.
- Johnson has helped kids who were scared to touch the water get to the point where they can put their face in and blow bubbles. She's also helped overeager kids learn appropriate boundaries and safety in the water. It all starts with building trust, she said.
- Adaptive Aquatics can also be an outlet for kids of all abilities to find a sense of accomplishment as they build on their skills – regardless of their starting point. Johnson and her highly trained team tailor lessons to meet each kid's unique needs.
"The water’s a very equalizing environment where everybody can participate, and everybody can be successful," Johnson said.
Tell me more
Parents interested in Adaptive Aquatics fill out an online questionnaire to help the SafeSplash team determine how best to support their children.
- From there, Johnson will reach out to the parents, talk with them about their goals and set a date and time for lessons. The goal is to have adaptive lessons during a time when the pool is not otherwise busy or filled with kids in other lessons.
"It's always one-on-one," Johnson said. "You really get the full attention of the instructor during that time to maximize learning."
Johnson also has experience in helping connect families of kids with disabilities to resources that can help families navigate the financial aspect of the lessons – including connecting families to grants available in the community.
And, with her background in occupational therapy, Johnson has also helped train her team of instructors to be sensitive to needs including: sensory issues, motor issues, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, movement challenges and more.
Parent Beth V. said she can't recommend SafeSplash enough – especially for kids with unique needs.
"I wasn't sure how lessons would go because Annie doesn't always understand what you are wanting from her, but they've exceeded my expectations," she said.
Whatever the need, Johnson is willing to find a way to help that child learn.
"It truly has been a gift to provide this to the community," Johnson said. "It's fun to think outside the box and be creative."
How can I get started?
Learn more about Adaptive Aquatics and find the online interest form here.
