Water Safety and Swimming for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
In 2024, the YMCA of Metro Chicago served approximately 3,000 participants each month through group swim lessons. And through a grant from Autism Speaks, our team was able to provide no-cost and low-cost lessons again this year to 50 youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program is part of the Y’s commitment to inclusion and to helping all individuals learn to be safe in and around the water.
Youth with ASD are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers, and 32% of parents of children with ASD report that they have had a “close call” of drowning for their child. Participating in formal swim lessons can significantly reduce the risk of drowning.
Based on feedback from participants, their families, and instructors, the program experience was universally rewarding.
For some participants, the lessons were their first time stepping into a pool. Many of those same youth have continued to move forward with additional aquatics lessons and programming. For instructors, the program wasn’t only about teaching youth how to swim — it provided them with lifesaving skills and the confidence to believe in themselves.
“Seeing their excitement and hearing their plans to swim in the future reminded me of the profound impact we can have on our community,” said one of our instructors.
IMPACT SPOTLIGHT
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIAL:
“My 11-year-old autistic son loves water, and our family has been searching for private swim lessons for several years now. The search has been difficult as we look for someone who could meet him at his level of learning.
“Finding the Hastings Lake YMCA and being able to introduce my son to basic lifesaving skills in the water has been amazing. His swimming lessons have been the highlight of his week. He is so excited and happy to go. The staff is patient, and it is clear they have vast experience with children of all abilities.”
“I hope other families have the opportunity to see their children flourish the way we have. Continued access to this program will help parents like me rest easier knowing their child has the basic skills to be safer in and around water.”
AQUATICS IMPACT:
In addition to our 3,000 monthly swim lesson participants, the Y also served the community through water fitness, swim team and swim club, swim camps, swim tests, open swim, birthday parties, lifeguard classes, community CPR classes, and private swim lessons. In particular, the Y team certified:
- 197 individuals in Lay Responder CPR
- 374 individuals in CPR for Professional Rescuers
- 99 YMCA Swim Lesson Instructors
- 530 Lifeguards
By training 530 lifeguards, the Y team is continuing to maintain high standards of safety at YMCA pools while also doing our part to address the national lifeguard shortage.