Comments on: Back in the Swim

By: When It’s Hot, Head for the Water

When It’s Hot, Head for the Water — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:02:55 +0000

[...] lovely 97 degrees here in New Jersey today and Charlie just requested to swim in the big pool at my college (ABC filmed him swimming some in this pool last Monday and I hope some of the footage [...]

By: Shawn

Shawn — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:59:19 +0000

It really does help Jonah attend to what the instructor is trying to do and stim less. This program has enabled him to try not only swim, but soccer, softball and karate. Now that he is getting older, he only needs the aide when he’s transitioning from one level to the next. Hopefully one day soon, he’ll be able to do some of these same sports on our community/school teams because of that “foot in the door” on how to participate in team sports. I know one sport that we are starting now, that allows him his quirks…is running. My husband is an avid runner (me not so much). We are hoping it will have the added benefit of adding more fluidity and balance to his movements (he has some lingering tonal/muscle and coordination issues).

If you would like more information on our mentoring program, I’d be glad to e-mail you the contact information. Maybe they could contact your Y and plant the seeds of something wonderful!

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:40:41 +0000

My kids both did water therapy with OT and speech when they were very young, like 3-5 at the pool at the Hospital. I was just looking at the pics the other day and we used to bring this big blow up whale for the boys to swim on. They did combo therapy in pool.

I plan on taking Nick to swim lessons this month at a nearby pool. Matt needs to be toilet trained for that I believe.

I got some good ideas for Nick for next school year (homeschool) that we can do at the Y perhaps or go to a 24 hour fitness that has a pool and do some swimming there.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:59:47 +0000

I had hoped to have better news from our Y. Well, by the time Charlie is 14, we can just swim and no questions asked—-thanks for mentioning that program, Shawn! I don’t think out Y has such a program; I really like the idea of including special needs kids with an aide (and, as I think of it, Charlie would do better in the water with instructions etc. in general).

By: Shawn

Shawn — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:58:05 +0000

Christina, does your Y offer a Y Kids Inc. program? We have a small Y here close to home, with only one pool. The other area Y has three pools, but the drive is a bit far. However, all our Syracuse Y’s offer one on ones to those children with IEPs (or some other qualifying evaluation). We haven’t a special needs swim group. Instead, they provide a one on one aide for my son for the full duration of his swim lesson for each weekly class. This has been such a blessing and he is able to take the classes without the aide. These aides are Y staff who have gone through training to be one on ones – for all areas of kids Y programs. However, like you…we run into issues with the lap lanes. It is as much a matter of space (for us) as it is some people’s inflexability/lack of awareness of Autistic individuals and their quirks. Glad to hear you found a way around that! We are getting a new super Y soon, much closer to our house (our two colleges Syracuse, my alma mater and LeMoyne are too far)…hopefully, this will alleviate some of our challenges as well.

By: Regan

Regan — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:06:39 +0000

I’ve thought about your and Charlie’s efforts to get some lane time since you mentioned it way back. Really disappointing about your local Y.

But that is so awesome that there is a solution at the college, and so awesome that Charlie is lovin’ it.
That rocks.

By: Marla

Marla — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:13:05 +0000

This is great! We had trouble with sim times at the Y too. I can’t wait for summer. We go to a public pool nearby most Sundays when it is not crowded. M is a great swimmer. I had her swimming as a baby. She has always loved the water.

I think it is great that Charlie is able to swim more with this swim team group. Sounds wonderful.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:16:35 +0000

What a wonderful story! I love positives.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:16:04 +0000

@Lenora, tried Special Olympics at our YMCA and were told Charlie has to know the strokes—-will look into your suggestion, thank you!

@Retired Waif, will keep that pool in mind!

@mayfly, Charlie started to swim when he was 6. He loved the water before that but always clung to us. Then we joined a pool that did not allow any flotation devices and this did the trick—-Charlie had to swim (he still does a breast stroke/doggy paddle sort of thing; also swims on his back—-he started that on his own). He’s had some private lessons.

I’m looking up my old journal to see what else we did to get him started swimming.

By: Lenora

Lenora — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:07:52 +0000

Have you ever tried your local Special Recreation Association programs? Ours-the WSSRA (Chicago) – has a swim team that competes in the Special Olympics as well as swimming lessons.