Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Autism

49 replies

Atipipipi · 04/06/2014 20:34

My 9yr old son has ASD and he loves swimming, can someone tell me how I can get him swimming lessons so that the can be safe in the pool? I can't swim so I can't teach him. Is there a school that can teach special needs kids to swim? Please I need help..

OP posts:

FunkyBoldRibena · 07/06/2014 09:34

ADHD is NOT ASD.

Anyhow - there is a legal obligation on the provider to provide lessons for ALL so get in touch with whoever you would get in touch with to arrange swimming lessons, and let them know that you require swimming lessons for your son with ASD, they have to provide them.

PrincessBabyCat · 07/06/2014 09:40

Princess, you don't know very much about the spectrum, but perhaps you are a bit less confused now?

Yes. Thank you to everyone that gave real answers and clarified. :)

I am hiding the thread so people can focus on the OP instead of my silly post.

ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 07/06/2014 09:41

That's interesting funky does that apply to all classes eg say gymnastics, karate??

Iwillorderthefood · 07/06/2014 09:45

I know nothing about ASD, however, my DD's school has a specialist unit where children who have ASD can attend and be in mainstream school as little or as often as they like. Are there any schools near you like this? Could you ask them for advice, as they might have information about swimming lessons for your son that you can access?

DeepThought · 07/06/2014 09:57

I know MN HQ have long since abandoned their expectation that users educate about SN but I am so pleased to see a bit of education and explanation in this thread, well done

OP I hope you find a suitable provider

FunkyBoldRibena · 07/06/2014 09:58

That's interesting funky does that apply to all classes eg say gymnastics, karate??

Well, one of my students is an Olympic gymnast and he has Downs...

Yes, the onus on all provision is to be inclusive - they can't just say 'we don't deal with those sorts of people'...they have to either deal with or refer to someone who can deliver the training. As far as it is possible for the person of course, someone in a wheelchair with disabilities evidently can't 'do' karate but someone with Autism can definitely swim once taught.

ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 07/06/2014 10:05

Thanks Funky!

Ski school wouldn't take him but that was France, law possibly different there? And have heard various stories on threads here of people having difficulties with it.

Haven't yet tried anything much because of his difficulty following instructions (i don't think he's ready for it yet) but good to know that they have to.

Dumpylump · 07/06/2014 10:11

My ds1 is asd with associated learning difficulties and as a toddler was obsessed with water, and had no danger awareness (still has very little of that tbh).
We decided this was a dangerous mix (!), and arranged 1-1 lessons with swim teacher at our local council pool. They have staff who have had training and experience teaching children and adults with SN.
Ds1 started lessons when he was 3, and carried on with them until he was 16 last year. In that time, he just had 3 different teachers as the need for continuity and routine was well understood by staff.
He now trains with the Disability Swim Team and has won medals, trophies, and attended comps and galas all over the country.

He absolutely loves swimming, and is often referred to in our house as "dolphin boy"!

gingee · 07/06/2014 11:30

dumpy what a fab story. If I recall correctly a few of our winning Paralympic swimmers were ASD!

ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 07/06/2014 12:27

Love that story, thanks Dumpy!

ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 07/06/2014 12:28

Gingee I liked the girl winner who when asked how it felt to have a medal said "heavy"

nahidontthinkso · 07/06/2014 12:34

My DS has ASD and acute sensory needs and is in a special school. I found a lady who does swimming lessons for NT children but she was prepared to teach DS 1:1 at a quiet time. She didn't charge me any extra. She was really good with him and has lots of experience with ASD. She teaches kids to swim by actually getting in the water with them rather than instructing them from the poolside.
Just ring round your local swimming teachers, chances are some of them will have taught ASD kids before.

Dumpylump · 09/06/2014 09:24

Thank you, I am sooo proud of him! He's very sporty all round - as you can possibly tell from my name, he doesn't get it from me!
He's been chosen to be one of the Queens baton relay people when it passes through our town on its way to the Commonwealth Games - I may actually burst that day!

Rideronthestorm · 09/06/2014 09:27

Ask your council, ours used to have separate classes for DCs who needed more supervision (for a variety of reasons).

x2boys · 09/06/2014 10:31

Hi dumpy my son is four he is ASD also learning difficulties at present he is nonverbal and he loves going swimming I asked at my local pool and they do teach children with autism but they have to be able to follow instructions I suppose this is a question for funky to when you say they have to be inclusive are they obliged to adapt their teaching methods to accomadate children with ASD and or learning learning difficulties?

WilsonFrickett · 09/06/2014 10:49

X2 I think that's a real grey area - for example, I waited till DS was 6 to start swimming lessons. Partly because this co-incided with a house move and the new local pool didn't have a waiting list for SN swimming, partly because I felt more certain about his ability to follow instructions.

I do absolutely get and support that services can't exclude, but for my own peace of mind I just couldn't send him into a potentially lethal situation until I felt he was ready. His current swimming lessons have a 4:1 ratio, and there's usually another teacher in the pool 1:1 with a child with more severe needs, it's also a calmer environment etc etc so I'm 100% more confident. The teachers do very much adapt their teaching and how they instruct, but I still wanted to be sure DS was able to follow those instructions.

1:1's were available in our old area, but the waiting list was ridic - but then the waiting list for all swimming lessons were stupidly long there as the council kept closing pools!

x2boys · 09/06/2014 10:55

Yes Wilson I see what you mean and its what I was afraid of he couldn't just have normal swimming lessons he would need 1:1 he can follow instructions but only on a 1:1 basis he has full 1:1 support at nursery and will probably be going to a special school its shame because he loves being in the water!!

SoonToBeSix · 09/06/2014 11:06

Ffs princess my dd has aspergers it certainly isn't " mild autism"

WilsonFrickett · 09/06/2014 11:30

Have you phoned the council leisure dept x2? There may well be 1:1's available, it just might not be at your local pool.

Our swimming instructor was off last week and her boss showed up to do the lesson, it was absolute carnage. 3 Aspies ran rings round her - obviously they're all safe in the water now or it wouldn't have been funny - but watching her give a string of complex verbal instructions to the boys who then turned round and started doing exactly what they wanted was quite fun! You really do need someone who knows what they're doing.

x2boys · 09/06/2014 11:44

No but I will Wilson thankyou if you don't mind me asking when your son started swimming lessons was he verbal and able to follow instructions?

x2boys · 09/06/2014 11:49

Ah sorry Wilson I see you have already said your ds was more able to follow instructions at six.

Dumpylump · 09/06/2014 13:56

When my ds started his lessons the teacher was in the water with him, and they started off in the smaller "kiddie" pool as he couldn't bear the echoey noise in the main pool, and for a long time I used to be in the water too...not right beside them, or participating in the lesson, but close enough that if ds became too overwhelmed or anxious I was able to step in.
It was a long, slow process, but it was so worth it.

lougle · 09/06/2014 14:45

First step should definitely be to check with a swim school. DD1 had SN (special school) and goes to a regular swimming class alongside her sisters, but they provide her with her own instructor at normal cost to me. I do have access to funding for 1:1 in mainstream classes (Hampshire have a scheme called Gateway for this) but they said they consider it their way of 'giving back' to the community, so are willing to absorb the cost.

ASDAwareness · 20/04/2019 09:20

Hi Everyone,

I am a parent of a teen girl (16 years old) with ASD, we've had the diagnosis about 5 years ago.

I'm currently finishing my MSc in Psychology, my research is on Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Workplace. I'd be interested to chat with other parents about their experience. The aim of my research is to continue to raise awareness to parents, education professionals and employers about the support / skills needed to support young adults to be able to attain work and sustain it.

Please contact me on [email protected], if you'd like to know more about my research.

Thank you.
Evie

Flip

1 2