Goldfish Swim School Promotes Swim Safety During Autism Acceptance Month

By: Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC | 0 Shares 221 Reads

Studies show children on the autism spectrum face heightened drowning risk

TROY, Mich., April 5, 2023 // PRNewswire // - In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, Goldfish Swim School is raising awareness about the increased risk of drowning for children on the autism spectrum and the heightened need for water safety education among kids in this group and their families.

Children with autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than the general pediatric population, according to a study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, due to their increased tendency to explore and wander away from parents, teachers or caregivers and the affinity for water that many autistic kids share. Children on the spectrum can be highly focused, and if they slip away from a known adult, their curiosity can be life-threatening near any water source.

To combat this danger, Goldfish Swim School stresses the importance of water safety instruction for all kids, particularly those on the spectrum. At each of its schools, Goldfish provides swim lessons with a unique and science-backed approach called The Science of SwimPlay®. Through a combination of guided play and a safe environment, kids build life skills both in and out of the water. This approach is adaptable for most children, including those on the spectrum, in group or private lessons. Many Goldfish Swim Schools have also implemented a Golden Learners program, which offers modified swim lessons that provide additional assistance and tools for children with special needs to learn and grow.

"Our primary mission at Goldfish Swim School is that all children have the opportunity to learn how to swim and be safe around the water, and we understand that every child is unique," said Goldfish Swim School Curriculum Development Manager Clarey Collins. "For children on the spectrum who may need a different approach, we're here to adapt our approach or guide them toward the right resources."

To further highlight the importance of water safety for kids on the spectrum, Goldfish Swim School has partnered with Alijah's Awareness. The organization was founded after Allyson Alvarez and Eric Gonzalez's daughter, Alijah, who had been diagnosed with autism, died tragically in a drowning accident after wandering into a pool area during non-swim hours.

Since then, the family has continued to honor Alijah by raising awareness about autism and the increased risk of drowning for kids on the spectrum, even when parents take all the right precautionary measures, including issuing life jackets, watching the pool during swim time or locking the doors.

Because the best layer of drowning prevention is ensuring children know how to save themselves in the water, Goldfish Swim Schools in Winter Park, Florida, where the foundation is based, and Gaithersburg, Maryland, will award three-month swim lesson packages to 10 local children through the Alijah's Swimmers Scholarships program. The program was launched in 2021 and has provided swim lessons for dozens of children.

SOURCE Goldfish Swim School

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