Can a Child with Autism Learn to Swim?

Swimming is an imperative life skill that all children and adults should attain. It is especially important for children and adults with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). According to the National Autism Association, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for individuals with ASD and accounted for approximately 90% of total U.S. reported deaths in children with ASD under the age of 14. In addition to creating confidence in the water, learning how to swim can also foster self-confidence outside of the water. For an individual with ASD, it can help cultivate endless skills and strengths that will pay dividends for a lifetime. Some of which include improved speech and cognitive function.

Individuals with Autism Excel in the Aquatic Environment

After 25 years of swim lesson instruction and swim coaching, it is my conviction that everyone has the ability to learn this vital skill. Having the opportunity to teach and coach individuals with autism has been an extremely rewarding experience. From the first time beginner to the veteran Paralympian; swimming is an excellent sport for an individual on the autism spectrum to participate in.

Individuals with autism excel in the aquatic environment. It creates an excellent atmosphere to cultivate focus and helps lessen the severity of symptoms. It can also provide a positive outlet to plug energy into. Swimming provides the perfect blend of individual attention and team socialization. It allows someone to be drawn into focusing on their technique without being overly intimidated socially as other activities can be with autism.

Swimming helps improve overall body awareness, posture, balance and coordination. Watching ASD swimmers confidence increase in the pool and carry over to other aspects of their life is empowering for friends and family.

Private Lessons Customize the Students Learning Experience

Initially private lessons can be the difference maker to increasing skill sets and confidence quickly and effectively. A patient instructor that is creative with ways to communicate skills is imperative. There is not necessarily a set "cookbook" for teaching aquatic skills to someone with autism. On the spot adaptations and modifications to fit their individual needs is an important technique to deploy for initial instruction. Being able to mold the aquatic environment comfortably around the individual is something to keep at the forefront of your approach.

Gently adding and increasing swimming skills at an appropriate pace to match the individual’s needs will go a lot further than following a regimented checklist of skills. Sometimes swimming skills don’t have to be linear and can be more cumulative to help attain a milestone. Reaching a goal of sustained swimming versus flawless technique can be the bigger achievement with some individuals.

Therapeutic Benefits of Swimming for ASD

Swimming has been shown to increase self-control, self-esteem, and self-confidence in children with ASD in a short period of time. There are numerous studies that have shown swimming improves quality of life by increasing their toleration to touch, initiation of eye contact and improved social interactions. According to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation, swimming can help children’s social skills, self-esteem and coordination. In an article published in the International Journal of Psychology, water is a soothing environment that emphasizes gentle and repetitive motion. For children with ASD, the water on the body has a calming effect that reduces stressful noises and makes them have an overall happier and healthier demeanor. Swimming helps improve impulse control, ability to follow instructions and frustration tolerance for individuals with ASD.

Opportunity to Join A Swim Team

Once basic and intermediate skills are formulated autistic swimmers may want to challenge themselves and increase their skill sets by joining a team. Swimming provides an opportunity to be in the play environment but to interact at a level that is comfortable for them. There is significantly less team pressure in this environment compared to other sports. An individual can “stay in their own lane”; while still being in the” same pool”, as their teammates.

Socialization

It takes patient coaches and teammates to find a way to introduce the team model and help an autistic teammate feel comfortable in it. Having open communication with your team is beneficial so everyone knows how to handle situations of anxiety or discomfort; that may arise in social settings. Some moments where this may surface include team meetings, crowded lanes and swim meets. I have found it helpful to tell the individual that they are allowed to distance themselves when they feel uncomfortable and let them know that you will have a captain or team leader check on them in their quiet place. Inclusion on a team can have a monumentally positive influence on their lives and the lives of their teammates. If the situation is right and is progressing to this point; I highly suggest pursuing this aspect of the sport to fully maximize the social benefits it can lead to.

I can proudly say that I have never denied teaching an individual swimming due to a perceived limiting factor. I have never “cut” someone from a program that I was the coach of. I have learned so much from everyone that I have had the opportunity to teach or coach swimming too. Swimming has shown me that the only limitations that exist are within our minds. It is my humble opinion that swimming would be beneficial to an individual with ASD and improve all aspects of their life.

Michael Kleinert's bio:

Swim Instructor in Oceanside, CA

Experience/Accomplishments: 25 years of private and group lesson experience. Head Coach USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment 2011-present. United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Swimming Level 2 National Coach. Assistant Coach for 2017 World Series of Para Swimming Berlin, Germany and 2018 World Series of Para Swimming Lignano Sabbiadora, Italy. Head Coach 2018 US Paralympic National Championships. Head Coach 2019 World Military Games. Coached 3 swimmers for a combined 21 Paralympic American Records.

Certifications: Level 5 Disability Certification through American Swim Coaches Association.USA Swimming Coaching Certification. NFHS Certified Interscholastic Coach. NSCA Strength and Conditioning Certification. NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist and Corrective Exercise Specialist. NATA Certified Athletic Trainer.