The Need for Adaptive Aquatics

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for people with autism, and as one of the fastest-growing developmental disabilities in the United States that affects 1 in 54 kids, it’s important to provide families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) the resources and support they need. 

Texas Swim Academy has teamed up with Hope for Three to offer scholarships to those families in need of financial assistance for swimming lessons. As an organization that strongly focuses on water safety and survival, we feel it’s imperative that every child has the opportunity to learn these lifesaving skills in a safe and comfortable environment. 

Hope for Three
Hope for Three is a local non-profit and advocacy group dedicated to providing resources and support for families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Hope for Three was established in April 2011 and was inspired by a Fort Bend County mother who had triplets who were diagnosed after the age of 2 with Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, a diagnosis that falls under the umbrella of ASD. 

As one of the only non-profits throughout the Greater Houston area that focuses solely on autism and other disabilities, Hope for Three continues to advocate for these families and provide them with the means to have access to a higher quality of care at the earliest stage of life possible. To date, Hope for Three has awarded $1.1 million to families through generous donations, including providing scholarships for medical care, camps, horseback riding, and swimming lessons, just to name a few. 

Why Are Swimming Lessons So Important?
According to the National Autism Association, nearly 48 percent of children with ASD attempt to elope (wander) from a safe environment at a rate nearly four times higher than their neurotypical siblings. For families with pools or while visiting friends with pools, this leaves children with ASD extremely vulnerable. Accidental drowning accounted for 91 percent of the total reported deaths in children with ASD 14 years old and younger in the United States. 

The statistics are staggering, with 32 percent of parents reporting a “close call” with drowning and 62 percent of families with children who elope not attending or enjoying activities outside of the home for fear of wandering. At Texas Swim Academy, we believe every child should have access to quality swimming lessons that make a difference. 

The Texas Swim Academy Adaptive Aquatics program is designed to teach life-saving skills to children of all ages and abilities and help them embrace their natural affinity for water in a safe and beneficial way. We create a calm, patient and reassuring atmosphere suited for the individual needs and abilities of each swimmer. 

Traditional swim classes usually do not have instructors who are trained with children on the autism spectrum and who do not understand their special learning needs. But at Texas Swim Academy, our instructors are trained by leading experts in autism swim instruction to communicate effectively with swimmers on the autism spectrum. We are proud to offer a program that is tailored to our swimmers’ needs and abilities so everyone can learn these valuable lifesaving skills and build confidence in the water. 

Your Katy Swimming Experts
Texas Swim Academy remains dedicated to providing the right kind of swimming instruction for children of all ages and abilities. If you are an ASD family in need of financial assistance for swimming lessons or are even looking for resources and programs that can help, be sure to visit Hope for Three. For more information about our Adaptive Aquatics Program, give us a call so we can talk to you more in-depth about how it works and what you can expect. There is nothing more important than your child’s safety, and we look forward to helping every child learn the enjoyment of swimming.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 
Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!