5-year-old autistic girl found in pond
September 21, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
5-year-old Kaitlin Bacile went missing Saturday and was found dead in a pond behind her home Sunday, WPLG reports. Kaitlin had autism and lived in Wellington (FL).
A couple of days ago, AutismParents.net asked if the water rescue of a 13-year-old autistic boy and his father “downplayed the risk of autistic children drowning. Learning to swim is more than necessary, and perhaps all the more so as many autistic children are drawn to water—-the mother of an autistic boy who drowned, founded an organization, Christopher Connections, whose goals include “promoting the important of swimming lessons for autistic children, creates “opportunities for affordable swim lessons for children with ASDs from qualified, certified swim instructors.”
Thinking a lot about Kaitlin and her family.
This is exactly why I have just started my son in swimming lessons. Stories like this scare me to death.
My anxiety levels probably lessened considerably after Charlie learned how to swim, that’s for sure.
Terribly sad. Christophers Connections sounds like a great idea. We started M swimming as a baby. Even with knowing how to swim though I would wonder if she could react quickly in a situation where she fell in. Terrifying to think about.
Hi,
I knew Kaitlin who drowned in the canal/lake a block away from her home. I happened to be the one who found her floating in the canal.
My 6.5 year old little girl, Angelia also has Ausitm. Angelia attended the same school that Kaitlins older brother attended and last year attended the same school as Kaitlin.
When I found her, I was devistated. My daughter has swam our canal 4 times. It is “impossible” to have a 24/7 watch on your child and now I take Angelia to the bathroom with me and anywhere else that I may go within the house.
God Bless Kaitlin Basile and her famly.
Truly
Wellington, FL
@Truly Sieli,
Please send many many thoughts and more to Kaitlin’s family—-and more.
If I can’t hear my son, I start looking—-
And a big hug for Angelia. Very, very big.
Kristina Chew
A candlelight vigil was held for Kaitlin on Friday, WPTV reports.
I am very saddend by this tragedy. I just read about the story and it scares me to death. My daughter J is five and autistic. I really want to enroll her and my other two children in swimming class. When I was looking for swimming classes in my area this popped up. It is so frighting to think about something so horrible happening to your kids but reality is sometimes in life there are accidents that you cant forsee or prevent. My prayers are with this family and their little angel. I am very sorry for your loss.