Press Release: 4/3/2025

On World Autism Awareness Day, District Attorney Marian Ryan Highlights Initiative to Increase Water Safety for Children with Autism and All Abilities

 



POSTED ON: APRIL 2, 2025 - 4:45PM



 



CONCORD – On World Autism Awareness Day Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan is emphasizing the importance of her initiative to improve water safety for children with autism, anxiety, sensory needs, motor challenges and other swimmers that learn differently.



Every summer, here in Massachusetts we have had instances where children with autism tragically lose their lives to drowning. A study by the American Journal of Public Health found that children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than neurotypical children. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, District Attorney Ryan launched a partnership with Swim Angelfish to bring their world-class educational training and adaptive resources to families in Middlesex County. 



“These drownings happen far too often, leaving a lasting impact on communities across the country. What makes these losses especially devastating is that with proper training, they are often preventable,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Many kids with different abilities require a more specialized kind of swim training to develop essential, life-saving water safety skills. When we began talking about this with community leaders, we learned that many parents didn’t know about the resources available, that is why this partnership with Swim Angelfish is so important. By hosting Adaptive Swim Days we are teaching families skills, raising awareness, and connecting lifeguards with tools to maximize the reach of these prevention efforts.”



Last weekend, District Attorney Marian Ryan hosted an Adaptive Water Safety Day in partnership with Swim Angelfish and supported by dive team members from the Massachusetts State Police at the Thoreau Club of Concord. Lifeguards from the Thoreau Club also received education on adaptive swim and helped families practice the new skills in the pool.  This training was the second Adaptive Swim Day hosted by the District Attorney’s Office since the program was launched last summer.  In total, the events alone have educated 40 families, police partners, local legislative leaders, lifeguards and members of the community all with the goal of connecting more people with resources to save lives.



The Swim Whisperers program run by Swim Angelfish is specially designed to cater to children with severe to mild sensory issues, problems with motor skills, difficulty processing information, attention issues or any other condition that might physically or psychologically impede the process of learning to swim. 



The events provide free training sessions, both in and out of the water, led by Cindy Freedman, cofounder of Swim Angelfish urging parents to use skills including:



Ritual and Routine




  • Use routines to your advantage. Create safer rituals for water play, swimming and transitioning in and out of the water. Implementing these tips will give you a few extra seconds needed to avoid a dangerous situation.



Monitor and Intervene




  • Monitoring and intervention are critical, especially for the autistic and special needs population. Given their heightened sensory seeking behaviors, caregivers must remain hyper vigilant, focusing on risky behaviors like repeated submersion, breath-holding, and excessive drinking.



Rescue and Equipment




  • Neurotypical and neurodivergent swimmers alike need to understand how to use lifejackets and rescue tubes. It is imperative to familiarize everyone with rescue equipment, improving the ability to hold it, touch it and identify it as a safety device.



Adaptive Swim Skills




  • Adapting your approach when teaching rollovers, changing directions, and developing emerging swim skills is paramount. This requires modifications, transition time, and tailored strategies that address students' unique sensory and motor challenges. 



Swim Angelfish offers free resources for parents and professionals on their website, download Swim Angelfish’s free Water Safety Toolkit here: https://swimangelfish.com/water-safety-for-all-abilities/



View photos from the event here: https://www.middlesexda.com/youth-initiatives/slideshows/adaptive-water-...