Swimming is a valuable life skill for everyone. However, not everyone learns how to swim in the same way. Some swimmers have to overcome obstacles to their swimming skills and physical, developmental, cognitive, or sensory problems at the same time.
That sounds challenging in itself, right? That’s why adaptive swim lessons, also known as Special Needs Swim Lessons or Sensory Swim lessons, use an adaptive approach to meet different learning needs.
You can find special needs swimming lessons near me to let your children enjoy and learn swimming skills. Read on to learn what adaptive swimming is, who can benefit from it, and how you can experience this transformative approach to learning to swim.
What is Adaptive Aquatics?
Adaptive Aquatics is aquatic programming where the instructor or aquatic therapist is skilled in assessing challenges, identifying roadblocks, and implementing effective strategies using a modified, flexible approach.
Traditional methods combined with patience aren’tis only sometimes enough to achieve swim skill benchmarks or therapy goals. Specialized training is essential and plays a big part in the success of children’s swimming. Here’s how
- Adapting to unique requirements through specialized training
- Strategies for swimmers with difficulties in focus and execution
- Supporting swimmers with special needs in the pool
What are Adaptive Swim Lessons?
Adaptive swim lessons are designed for individuals with special needs or disabilities. These classes provide a safe and supportive environment for children to learn how to swim, improve swimming skills, gain water safety awareness, and improve overall quality of life.
These are some great reasons parents should look for special needs swimming lessons near me.
Who Benefits From Adaptive Swim Lessons?
Many individuals can benefit from Adaptive Swim lessons. Adaptive swim lessons would be an excellent choice if children who do not have a specific condition but fear the water, have experienced a traumatic water event or lack of water experience. It includes children who could make faster progress if taught in a way. It puts them at ease with an adapted approach, considering how they learn best.
Special needs swimming lessons near me can be helpful for children with conditions such as:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Brain Injury
- Cerebral Palsy (CP)
- Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Down Syndrome (DS)
- ADHD
- Angelman Syndrome
- Anxiety
- Auditory Processing Disorder
- Balance Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Rett Syndrome
- Scoliosis
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
- Speech Delay
- Fragile X Syndrome
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Stroke
- Williams Syndrome
- Motor incoordination
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Spinal Muscle Atrophy
What are the various types of adaptive swim lessons?
Each swim school has its unique swim classes for all abilities. However, Adaptive Swim lessons tend to be offered in 3 different ways like-
- Additional instructor in group classes for adaptive needs, emphasizing flexibility and patience.
- Buddy swim program with qualified instructors guiding volunteers for one-on-one sessions.
- Private 1:1 swim instruction with advanced adaptive aquatics training.
How Do You Know if Your Kid Needs Adaptive Swimming?
These are the 4 signs that your child might need adaptive swim lessons for development-
- Your child struggles in group swim lessons despite receiving additional support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) at school.
- They have difficulty grasping swim skill benchmarks and mastering the required steps.
- During lessons, your child tends to engage in disruptive behaviors such as excessive splashing, drinking pool water, and frequent submersion rather than following instructions.
- Your child displays signs of anxiety and discomfort when confronted with the same swim skill benchmarks week after week. They express dislike for attending swim lessons and reluctance to participate.
What are the Challenges Faced in Finding a Swim Instructor?
Many swim schools and aquatic centers prioritize a traditional swim curriculum rooted in flexibility, patience, and positive reinforcement, believing it suits all students, including those with diverse abilities or challenges.
However, the lack of an industry standard for training certified swim instructors in adaptive swim lessons poses a challenge. It’s crucial to inquire about an instructor’s specific training in teaching students with special needs or disabilities to ensure finding the most effective instructor for your child.
The Bottom Line
If you are a parent struggling to find special needs swimming lessons near me, rely on Saguaro Aquatics in Tucson. You get an expert-led SONORAN DOLPHINS program tailored for children with disabilities.
The curriculum emphasizes swimming skills and water safety, offering unique aquatic experiences. Through this specialized program, children with disabilities learn and thrive in the water, gaining valuable skills beyond swimming. Visit the website or call (520) 638-8040 to learn more.
