WESTON, Fla. — Florida is expanding its drowning prevention efforts for children with autism by increasing access to specialized swim instruction, as health officials and researchers seek to address a population that faces a disproportionately high risk of fatal drowning, according to state advocates, researchers and families participating in the program.
The initiative builds on state-funded swim lesson vouchers and adaptive instruction designed for children with autism, whose attraction to water, combined with a tendency to wander, has contributed to elevated drowning risks. The program is being delivered through organizations including the YMCA of South Florida, where instructors receive training to adapt lessons to the needs of autistic children.
Researchers at Florida International University have helped develop evidence-based teaching methods that rely on individualized instruction, predictable routines and sensory-aware approaches rather than traditional group lessons. According to the researchers, children participating in the program have shown measurable improvements in swimming and water safety skills after only several sessions.
Tania Santiago Perez, an associate teaching professor at Florida International University who studies adaptive swim instruction, told NPR that improvements seen after five or six lessons demonstrate the potential impact of specialized teaching for autistic children. Researchers say the lessons are also intended to promote social interaction and reinforce safe behaviors around water.
Families participating in the program say the instruction has increased children's confidence in the water while emphasizing safety. The lessons incorporate visual cues, structured routines and one-on-one guidance tailored to individual learning styles, instructors said.
Advocates say Florida has one of the highest rates of child drowning in the United States. The Autism Society of Florida says children with autism are significantly more likely to drown than neurotypical children and has pushed for expanded funding for swim lesson vouchers, door alarms and other prevention measures. The organization says current voucher eligibility remains limited, with funding targeted primarily at younger children, while continuing to advocate for broader access.
Despite the expanded emphasis on adaptive swim instruction, demand continues to exceed available capacity. The YMCA of South Florida said requests for specialized lessons already outnumber available spaces, and researchers have identified access to qualified instructors as a continuing challenge. The Florida Department of Health declined to provide additional details on the number of vouchers that will be available under the expanded program, according to NPR.
