Splashing into Growth: Unique Swim Skills for Students with Autism| ACE ®

Teaching swim skills encompasses much more than just technical strokes. Here are some key benefits:

• Safety Awareness: Teaching swim skills significantly enhances safety by reducing the risk of drowning, a critical concern for individuals with autism who may be drawn to water.
• Social and Communication Skills: Swimming lessons offer opportunities for social interaction and improve communication, helping learners build connections with peers and instructors.
• Therapeutic Benefits: Swimming promotes physical health, sensory integration, and emotional well-being, creating a calming environment that supports overall development.

At The New England Center for Children (NECC), we believe in the power of creating a positive environment that fosters cooperative success for our students with autism. Our instruction is tailored to meet each individual’s needs, allowing us to customize an individualized curriculum. With our on-site Michael S. Dukakis Aquatic Center, students participate in regular, scheduled swim instruction, providing them with valuable skills and experiences. Hear about Alexander Heggie’s experience teaching swim skills to learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Traditional group swim lessons often overlook the unique needs of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That’s why we utilize the ACE lesson plans, which combine elements of traditional Red Cross Swim Curricula with strategies specifically designed for our learners. These plans help students tolerate challenging situations through contact desensitization (or in vivo desensitization) alongside reinforcement techniques. This method provides differential reinforcement for desired behaviors as individuals gradually approach feared objects or environments. When implementing in vivo desensitization, we recommend increasing demands slowly to ensure success in each trial. Modifications may also be necessary for individual learners, such as starting with shorter exposure times to maintain a pattern of success.

Why ACE® ?

When implementing in vivo desensitization, we recommend increasing demands slowly to ensure success in each trial. Modifications may also be necessary for individual learners, such as starting with shorter exposure times to maintain a pattern of success. Some of our lesson formats include:

• 350 Tolerate Environment (SA)
• 1385 Enter Swimming Pool (Shaping) (TA)
• 1654 Enter Swimming Pool – Locker Room Routine (Shaping) (TA)
• 1658 Walk to Swimming Pools (Shaping) (TA)
• 2053 Participation (Attend Activity with Appropriate Behavior) (SA)
• 1359 Swimming Level 1 (TA)
• And many more!