"Summertime is always the best of what might be."

–Charles Bowden

Water Safety for Autistic Children

"Kids with ASD are 160 times more likely to experience nonfatal and fatal drowning than their neurotypical peers" according to Autism Society, Florida. Which is why I am putting some extra work into creating water safety resources for your loved ones with ASD.

Here are a few things we want to make sure that children with autism know about water:

• What drowning is

• How drowning happens

• What a safe flotation device looks like

• How to ask to go swimming

• Appropriate distance to stand from large bodies of water

Here are some free resources I have found for you :

• Safety Video

• PECs Style Visual

• Lessons on water safety for Kids

It is very important to never assume that a child knows anything about safety, teach each lesson as though it is the first time they have heard the information. Teach in short segments with simple wording. Here is an example script:

" It is summertime now, so we will be going swimming often, I want to make sure you know about safety. Do you know what drowning is? (reply) Do you know what we can do to not drown? (reply)". Use visuals as much as possible, have the appropriate flotation device in view and model and demonstrate how to put it on, make sure the child tries it themselves. Explain to the child what they are expected to do if they see large bodies of water (go to a parent and ask if it is safe to swim right now).