Making Safe Splashes
Water Safety Tips for This Summer Season
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As the weather heats up, many of us head to the water – the beach, the pool, the lake. Given that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children under age five, particularly those with Autism, it is imperative that we teach our loved ones the basics of water safety. This includes teaching them about different aquatic environments, entering and exiting the water safely, swimming and rescue skills. As with other skills, we need to teach these skills directly and clearly to our children with Autism. A great place to start is with the Autism Society of Florida's article on water safety.
Emphasize the three most important safety rules to EVERY family member:
- Never swim alone.
- No swimming without adult supervision.
- Never enter the water without permission.
The Autism Society of America has developed resources (including social stories) to help. You can download them here. The National Autism Association offers the Big Red Safety Toolkit to help navigate safety issues.
So, this brings me to the issue of swim lessons. I don't think that I am alone in being the parent of an Autistic child who was kicked out of swimming lessons – at two different pools. My son Kieran loved the water but had difficulty attending to what the instructor was saying – way too much other sensory information coming in. A program by OSU's physical education students taught him a rudimentary dog paddle and how to remain calm and signal the lifeguard if he became anxious in deep water. Later, some wonderful Special Olympics coaches were able to teach more traditional strokes.
He is now an excellent swimmer, but it was hard getting here. I encourage you to persevere. More and more places are offering lessons for children with special needs. A few of these include the YMCA, Safe Splash Swim Schools, Bear Paddle, colleges and universities, and your local rec center.
If you need help finding a program, call your local Autism Society affiliate or ASO at 614-495-7551. Some great ideas for fostering water safety skills and finding an appropriate swim instructor can be found here.
Warm regards,
Kathi J. Machle, President | kathi@autismohio.org
PHOTO: Kieran in 2015, celebrating his silver medal in the 100-meter individual medley – backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. He worked very hard not to be disqualified for his breaststroke kick!
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New Family Support
Thanks to three wonderful volunteers, ASO will soon offer a support group in Delphos, OH, for Putnam, Van Wert, and Allen counties.
Support groups are crucial for Autism families because they provide emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community. These groups offer a safe space for sharing experiences, challenges, and successes, which can help reduce feelings of isolation and stress. Families can learn about resources, therapies, and strategies to better support their loved ones with autism.
Additionally, support groups can advocate for autism awareness and policy changes, further enhancing the lives of individuals with autism and their families.
Want to start a group or programming in your community? We are here to help! Contact us at 614-495-7551 or info@autismohio.org to get started.
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Everyone Deserves a Celebration
Autism Society Central Ohio has launched a Happy Birthday Card Club. Residents of the 12 counties served by ASCO (Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Logan, Champaign, Union, Knox, Licking, Fairfield, and Pickaway) can be signed up to receive a birthday card during their birthday month.
Birthday Card Clubs are important for kids with autism because they help ensure that these children receive cards and well-wishes on their birthdays, which they might not otherwise get due to having a smaller social circle. These clubs foster a sense of inclusion and celebration, boosting the child's self-esteem and helping them feel valued and remembered. For many kids with autism, such gestures of kindness can make a significant positive impact on their emotional well-being.
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Private Moonlight Swim Event
On Saturday, July 27, from 8-10 pm, the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley will host a free swimming night at the Firestone Park Pool in Columbiana. This event sells out every year because it provides a calm, sensory-friendly environment where individuals with Autism and their families can enjoy swimming without the typical noise and crowds of public pools. The setting provided reduces sensory overload and anxiety, allowing families to relax and have fun together. It also fosters a sense of community and understanding among attendees, creating a supportive atmosphere for socializing and bonding in a stress-free environment. The private event is open only to area Autism families. All ages are welcome!
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As the prevalence of Autism rises, the demand for enhanced resources, including local programs and services for individuals and families throughout Ohio communities, also escalates. To meet this need, ASO collaborates with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to provide an Ohio Autism Awareness license plate.
The specialty license plate costs $35 annually, of which $25 is used for advocacy, Autism family support, and programming by us and local affiliates statewide.
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AT THE STATE HOUSE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OHIO FAMILIES
Ohio Medicaid has no uniform medical or reimbursement policies for ABA therapy, which results in Members facing inequities in coverage approvals and little to no access to care. The strained and inadequate provider network is seeing long delays in claims processing and reimbursement, making the ABA coverage within Medicaid unstable. Learn more here.
We need your help to have legislators take action to stabilize Ohio’s Medicaid system.
Please call or email your state legislator and members of the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC) the following messages:
Message for JMOC: Let Members know that children with Autism are losing important Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) treatment because of gaps in Ohio’s Medicaid system that need to be fixed! Ask members to please hold a hearing to address these barriers families and providers are enduring. A fact sheet about this issue and the letter ASO is sending can be found on our website.
Message for your State Legislator: Applied Behavioral Analysis is an important treatment for children with Autism, but due to Ohio’s patchwork system, children who have Medicaid are losing ABA. Please support changes to the Ohio Medicaid system that remove barriers to ABA, helping children with Autism with educational and behavioral treatments that improve their long-term quality of life. Also, please help us urge the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee to hold a hearing to remove the many challenges Ohio’s Autistic children face.
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ON CAPITOL HILL
The Lifespan Respite Care Program was enacted in 2006 to authorize state systems to provide accessible, community-based respite care services to family caregivers of all ages, disabilities, and chronic conditions. Last reauthorized in 2020, it is up for renewal. On May 23, the Senate approved S. 4325, reauthorizing $50 million over five years and including caregivers under 18. This bill, supported by Senators Collins and Baldwin, awaits a Senate vote. Contact your U.S. Senators to urge them to support final passage of S. 4325. A helpful resource for this can be found here.
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