Swim school includes kids with special abilities

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Summertime is in full swing, and so are pool days! Every child deserves to make a splash this summer, including those with special abilities. One swim school in Colorado Springs offers unique lessons that meet the needs of swimmers with physical, sensory, or developmental challenges.

“They are especially drawn to the water; it is an area where kids just love to be,” said Laura Barton, the Assistant General Manager of Safe Splash.

It’s that time of year to make a splash, but it’s important to make sure all kiddos can join in on the fun.

“Every child, no matter where they’re at, how old they are, should have the ability to be able to jump into the pool and have fun this summer,” said Barton.

Safe Splash says kids with special abilities are 160 times more likely to have a drowning incident compared to neurotypical kids.

“If you end up in water and you don’t know how to get yourself out, you don’t know how to find the edge, it becomes a scary problem for everybody,” said Kelsey Land, a mother who takes her kids to Safe Splash.

Safe Splash offers unique swim lessons through its adaptive aquatics program, which tailors every lesson to each swimmer’s unique abilities and goals, from focusing on basic water safety to developing advanced skills.

Barton says they take a lot of pride in the program and encourage families to make sure their kids are safe near water.

Safe Splash instructors have unique training, which makes them adaptable to kids with ADHD,

autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more. Instructors train with visual cues, time management, and sounds to help these kids become familiar with pool safety.

“It’s very important to our family for safety reasons and for development reasons that they know how to swim, and they love it,” said Land.

Swimming can soothe sensory overloads, improve strength, and offer a sense of independence for kids with special abilities.

Which is why these lessons are so valuable for both the children and their parents.

“We can take them places and not have to worry about them jumping in because they know where the edges are, they know where the safety what’s most important for them,” said Land.

The adaptive aquatics program begins with an online questionnaire to understand the swimmer’s abilities, needs, and goals so instructors can work with you to create a personalized plan.

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