Age 3-16

Swim For Life Lessons – SwimAbilities

SwimAbilities is a specialized swimming program designed specifically for children and youth living with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities. This program is based off the Lifesaving Society’s SwimAbilities program and provides a supportive and personalized learning environment, breaking down swimming skills into small, manageable steps to ensure success at each stage. With fewer participants in the water and a slower pace, SwimAbilities offers some one-on-one attention, enhanced visual aids, and individualized modifications tailored to the unique needs of each swimmer.

To maintain a safe and effective learning environment, a parent, caregiver, or aide MUST accompany participants in the water. Our instructors work closely with both the swimmer and their caregiver to develop essential water safety, swimming, and independence skills. Before the first lesson, parents/caregivers are required to complete a detailed questionnaire to help instructors customize the experience based on the participant’s specific needs and safety requirements.

Please note: SwimAbilities is intended for children who require additional support due to living with a disability. If your child does not fall under this category, we encourage you to explore our other Swim For Life swimming lessons

What to Expect During SwimAbilities:

SwimAbilities is designed to create a supportive and successful swim experience for children and youth living with disabilities. To ensure the best possible learning environment, here’s what to expect when your child participates in this program:

1. Intake Form: Before your child’s first lesson, it is crucial that parents/caregivers complete the SwimAbilities intake form. This form helps us understand your child’s unique needs, abilities, and any teaching strategies that work best. The intake form must be submitted before lessons begin and is required once per year, or whenever there is a change in the participant’s condition that would impact previous information.

2. Small Group Instruction: Participants will be grouped with others of similar abilities whenever possible, allowing for more focused instruction. Each group will be assigned to an instructor who will work with the participants on their individualized swim goals. However, due to the wide range of abilities, groupings may not always be possible. In this case, each instructor will work with up to 3 participants, dividing their time to ensure every swimmer receives attention.

3. Caregiver Involvement: All caregivers must be prepared to actively participate in the lessons. Even if you didn’t need to get in the water in a previous session, it’s important to know that caregiver involvement is often required. If mini-groups cannot be formed, caregivers are expected to be in the water at all times to ensure safety and support for the swimmer. During the lesson, caregivers will work on assigned activities and skills while the instructor rotates between participants.

4. First-Day Adjustments: The first 1-2 days of SwimAbilities can be busy as instructors assess and group participants in ways that work best for everyone involved. It’s a day of adjustment as we get to know each swimmer’s needs and abilities. We encourage parents and caregivers to be patient and ask any questions after the lesson to allow instructors to focus on teaching during swim time.

By understanding these expectations, we aim to make each SwimAbilities session as smooth and beneficial as possible for your child’s swimming journey!


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