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Lessons for Children with Special Abilities

At SafeSplash, we believe swimming is a life skill®, and that all children are safer and happier when they learn the basics of water safety, no matter the challenges they face. Our Adaptive Aquatics program considers the basic goals of each swimmer as we promote comfort in the water, focus on safety, and teach the basics of swimming to the extent a child’s physical and developmental ability allows.

Will my child with special abilities benefit from swimming lessons?

Lessons can also be therapeutic and, for many swimmers with special abilities, very calming. Water can soothe sensory overload and give swimmers a feeling of weightlessness and relief from physical discomfort. Other benefits include balance, coordination, strength, and range of motion. It’s not uncommon for parents to notice confidence and self-esteem boost, either. When your child learns how to swim with SafeSplash, they receive all the benefits of swimming in a safe, and supportive environment.

Individualized lesson plans are structured based on the goals and the interests of the swimmer.

Children with special abilities best succeed with flexible, patient, empathic teachers who use individual-focused methods. SafeSplash brand Certified™ Adaptive Aquatics instructors have experience teaching the necessary skills at the appropriate time for children with a variety of special abilities, including:

  • ADHD
  • Autism or ASD and other related developmental challenges
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Down syndrome
  • Sensory struggles
  • Other Physical challenges

Our Programs:

Therapeutic Aquatic Program (T.A.P.)
Therapeutic lessons best help swimmers with muscular and limb challenges or those who struggle with head control. The goal of this program is to help children gain strength while using buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure. With this program, it is important to have a parent, caregiver or physical therapist present with you as we begin to understand the child’s movement capabilities and challenges.

Adapted Swim Levels
Our three Adapted Swim levels utilize a specific framework and structure that helps swimmers with special abilities achieve milestones, while still allowing for flexibility and adaptation for individualized lesson plans and goals. These levels incorporate foundational safety skills as well as foundational swimming skills.

Adaptive Aquatics

Get Started

Our Adaptive Aquatics program at participating locations starts with an online questionnaire form that allows us to understand your swimmer, and their goals, and helps us develop a plan to best fit their unique challenges and abilities. We then set up a time for an on-site orientation before enrolling in lessons.

In our Adaptive Aquatics program, we recommend swimmers start with private classes to ensure proper instruction and safety. We work together with you and at the swimmer’s pace through our curriculum to reach goals and objectives.

Do you offer tuition support for the Adaptive Aquatics program?

While we do not directly offer tuition support for swimming lessons for children with special abilities, we do partner with third-party organizations that may be able to help. We’d love to welcome your child to swim class, so please get in touch with your local SafeSplash to learn more.

Find a Location

THE SAFESPLASH DIFFERENCE

325,000+ Kids

now have the life skill and know the joy of swimming

Proven Curriculum

developed by world class and Olympic champions

12 Million+ Lessons

taught by passionate, Certified Instructors

TESTIMONIALS

Joel L.

“My kids are learning fast and feel more and more confident in the water!”

Amanda C.

“The teachers are awesome and the curriculum really gets kids swimming well!”

Karen S

“The instructors are very patient with the beginners and maintain a fun and safe learning environment”

OTHER PROGRAMS

  • Infant & Toddler Swim Lessons
  • Children’s Swim Lessons
  • Adult Swim Lessons
  • Private & Semi-Private Swim Lessons
  • Swim Team Prep
  • Swim Camps & Clinics
  • Swim Party
  • Family Open Swim
Infant & Toddler Swim Lessons

Infant & Toddler Swim Lessons

We offer infant and toddler swim lessons as early as 4 months of age to help build confidence and get your infant comfortable in the water. Our small ParentTot classes are a great way for parents to bond and socialize with their kiddos while teaching vital water safety skills like breath control, floating and kicking. We also offer Toddler Transition classes for kiddos ages 24-36 months. Parents join their swimmers poolside until they are ready to transition to a small group class without a parent nearby. Both classes focus on foundational water safety skills as well as developing a comfort in the water, which are crucial in developing swimming skills.

Children’s Swim Lessons

Children’s Swim Lessons

We offer a variety of swim lesson programs for children of all ages and levels. Whether your child is just starting to get comfortable in the water or moving on to more advanced techniques we have you covered. Our progressive curriculum starts with foundational skills in beginner level classes and develops swimmers to be advanced swimmers. Whether your goal is basic water safety skills or competing at an elite level, our program can take your child from bubbles to butterfly®. We offer a variety of class types from small group classes featuring a 4:1 student to teacher ratio to semi-private and private lessons.

Adult Swim Lessons

Adult Swim Lessons

Whether you are just starting out, overcoming a fear of water or you are looking to refine your swim skills, our program gives adult swimmers at every level the opportunity to improve their skills. We offer a variety of class types for adults from small group classes to semi-private and private lessons. It’s never too late to learn this critical life skill. Our passionate instructors can help you overcome your fear and open the opportunity of enjoying the water.

Private & Semi-Private Swim Lessons

Private & Semi-Private Swim Lessons

Our private swim lessons allow swimmers of all ages and levels to progress through our curriculum at their own pace with one of our certified swim instructors. Each 30 minute class will be customized around mastering the skills to become a better, stronger, safer swimmer. Private and semi-private lessons (two swimmers with one instructor) are great options if you are looking for more time focused on your individual swimmer or siblings wanting to be in the same class.

Swim Team Prep

Swim Team Prep

The SafeSplash Wave® program is an endurance, strength, and swim team prep program that takes swimmers who already have knowledge of the competitive swimming strokes and want to refine their swimming skills. Our Wave program is broken up into swimmer groups based on swimmer ability, physical conditioning and current knowledge of the strokes in accordance to USA Swimming standards and our SafeSplash curriculum. Each session includes a set workout with an out of water coach whose primary goal is to mimic the experience one would have on a recreational swim team.

Swim Camps & Clinics

Swim Camps & Clinics

Our swim camps are perfect for swimmers looking to jump start their skills by swimming with us on a more frequent basis. Lesson frequency and consistency (along with quality instruction and a world class swim curriculum) is a key element in progressing a student’s swimming ability. Our swim camps provide lessons multiple times per week and are typically 1 to 3 weeks in duration. We also offer stroke clinics where we focus on specific stroke techniques to refine our student’s skills.

Swim Party

Swim Party

We can help you celebrate any occasion with our swim parties. Whether it's a birthday party, end of season party for the team, Scout party, or any other reason to have a great time, you will have a blast by celebrating it with SafeSplash.  Your SafeSplash party host will guarantee fun for all!  Our dedicated swim schools have warm water pools set at 90° so there will be no shivering while enjoying your cake!  Find your location to learn more about party packages available. We know you will have a blast celebrating with SafeSplash.

Family Open Swim

Family Open Swim

Our family open swim is a great time to practice swimming skills outside of lessons and have fun with the whole family. Our warm water pools make for a great way to spend the day splashing around and staying active. Practicing water safety and swim skills on a more frequent basis is a key to success in learning to swim. Plus, it’s simply fun!

NEARBY SWIM SCHOOLS