Awful experience this morning at swimming pool

[TheSteelFairy2]

Ds has GOT to learn to swim.

DS (7) has HFA. He also has some co-ordination issues and real difficulties with practical planning.

Went swimming this morning as usual. Decided to move from usual pool into other "childrens" pool. Concentrating on dd, ds goes and jumps straight into the pool, turn around after about 5 seconds and he is struggling in the water, just that bit out of his depth, although a childs pool it was just that bit too deep. I cannot tell you the look of fear in his eyes and how long it felt before I reached him, must have been all of 2 seconds but felt like forever.

He has basic swimming lessons at school and we take him every Saturday but he really struggles with the co-ordination aspect of it. Has anyone taught their autistic child to swim? Did you have lessons or manage it yourself? Any tips please. It was terrifying, he is none the worse fortunately just a bit quiet. I keep going cold thinking about it.

Mine can swim, without style or coordination but much power and confidence.
I taught him 1:1 and went for drownproofing him rather than style or accurate stroke. He found backstroke easiest, then sidestroke. We also used a float for him to hold on to. Never mastered crawl, face in water and breathing rhythm was too much. Managed a froggie version of breaststroke, not very rhythmically though
He does watersports and can swim 100 metres with a combination of flail and kicking.

Take him without distractions like dd if possible.
See if there's an instructor at the pool prepared to do 1:1 who has ASD experience.
To avoid drowning possibilities in the future, tell him exactly how to get in and out of the pool and when and where. Build it into his routine, so he knows what to do.

Sorry, forgot to add that I too have had so many heart-stopping 'Oh My God You Nearly Died' moments with mine, who has made it to 15 thanks to his overworked guardian angel that I didn't think to reassure you.

< have a cyber hug. I know mumsnet don't do this, but who gives a damm?

I have a great special needs swim teacher if you are in London? You might find though that this experience will make him more cautious round water, which could be a good thing long term. My DS (also 7, also ASD) had something similar happen and is now very very cautious about jumping in before he knows depth of pool.

I AM in London! That would be great if you could let me have contact details.

Thanks Goblinchild This was a new pool today and was told it was a childs pool so assumed (never assume where ASD is concerned I realise now!) that it would be the same depth as all the other pools we go to.

I am also not interested in creating a stylish swimmer, just one who can survive. It was absolutely terrifying. You know when a couple of seconds feels like forever. The worst thing being that I didn't notice straight away, what if I had decided to blow up dd's armbands a bit more or some other delaying thing? Anyway no use dwelling on it. Have been drumming into him over and over again today that he must NEVER jump in ANY pool without waiting for Mummy or Daddy to say it is ok.

'You know when a couple of seconds feels like forever'

Oh
Yes
Definitely.
When everything, including the cold sweat running down your spine is in slow motion?
It's a rictus really.

Me too please with the number of the Special needs swimming teacher- also in London

We paid for a 1:1 SN instructor for DS2 as he was absolutely terrified of water. Took a while but was worth every penny, as after about a year he was happy in the water.
He can now swim in his own fashion.. he has never mastered a stroke of any sort but has a froggydoggy paddle!!!! It gets him across the pool. DS2 has ASD and hypotonia and dyspraxia and I have no doubt he'll never swim for his county..but it was worth us persevering for safety.

DD1 is HFA and she is just learning but it takes a lot and we have to start at the begining everytime we go. She loves jumping in as long as she can touch the ground which is great for building confidence. She can just about swim doggy paddle but thats it, but keep at it, it will come in the end

'I have no doubt he'll never swim for his county..but it was worth us persevering for safety.'

Exactly the reason I persevered, given my boy's love of water and lack of action=consequence understanding. So whatever he fell into, he could make it to the side, or stay afloat long enough to yell for help.
We have a lot of different sorts of water in Sussex and he's been in all of them, clothed and unclothed. However, I no longer have to follow him in.

ds has LF ASD and swims in his own unique style. He goes every week to a specific ASD swimming session at our local pool.

Lessons as such wouldn't work but lots of pool time did. Ds is happy in water now and really looks forward to his swimming lessons.

Good luck.

S'OK, Goblinchild realised a long time ago that it was going to be a sink or swim situation for her boy, rather than a stay out of danger option.

Her name is Emma and her phone number is 07538 701590 - not sure what availability she has and she is outskirts of London, but it might be worth contacting her as she has got my boy doggypaddling away, and safe (the main thing!). She is endlessly patient and understands autism well.

Thanks very much will contact her. Thanks for all your messages, have spent the last few days at intervals of approximately one hour saying "what are you going to do whenever you see water now?, you are going to ask Mummy or Daddy before you jump in aren't you?" Have already had the fingers in the ears and "STOP SAYING IT!!" bellowed at me so think it must be sinking in .