Water Safety for Children with Autism

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Water Safetyfor Children with Autism

• Kimberly Haws, Vice President
• September 24, 2008

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Agenda

• Introduction to Christopher Connections
• The Need for Water Safety
• The Solution as We See It
• Actions Were Taking
• How You Can Help
• Questions

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Introduction

• The Christopher in Christopher Connections

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(No Transcript)
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Christopher Connections Inc.

• Founded on May 29, 2008 as a Florida non-profit
  corporation
• Our Mission
• To connect families and children with Autism
  Spectrum Disorders with qualified aquatic
  facilities that are appropriately certified to
  instruct special-needs children and their
  families providing education and scholarships to
  children and swim instructors.

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The Need for Water Safety

• Drowning is
• The leading cause of death among all children
  ages 1-4 in Broward County.
• Ten children under the age of four have perished
  this year, including Christopher.
• Widely accepted as the leading cause of death
  among children with Autism
• Medical Examiner stats dont track medical
  conditions of children who perish due to drowning.

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The Need for Water Safety

• More than one million children in America today
  have been diagnosed with Autism.
• Approximately every 20 minutes a new diagnosis is
  made.
• One out of every 94 boys in America is on the
  Autism Spectrum.

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The Need for Water Safety

• Children with Autism
• Lack a sense of fear and/or danger
• Tend to be non-verbal (50)
• Process things differently from typical children
• Require a variety of early-intervention therapies
  to enable them to participate in society
• Expensive and creates demands on parents time

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The Need for Water Safety

• Children with Autism tend to be particularly
  drawn to water
• Water stimulates all five senses at once
• But water doesnt have to be the enemy.

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The Need for Water Safety

• Children with Autism
• Need specialized swim instruction
• Benefit from regular swim instruction as part of
  their curriculum
• Physically, Emotionally Behaviorally
• Deserve the same Rights to Life, Liberty and the
  Pursuit of Happiness

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The Solution as We See It

• Motivate swim instructors to obtain the
  state-required Adapted Aquatics certification
  (F.S. 514.072)
• Negotiate discounted rates for private lessons at
  participating swim schools for children with
  Special Needs

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The Solution as We See It

• Raise awareness about water safety and the joys
  of learning to swim for life
• Create scholarships for the children whose
  parents cannot otherwise afford swim lessons

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Actions Were Taking

• Meeting with private swim schools in Broward and
  surrounding counties
• Meeting with parents of children with special
  needs
• Connecting parents and children to participating
  swim schools that meet their needs and budget
• Working to raise awareness at all levels

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How You Can Help

• Clarify language in F.S. 514.072 Certification
  of swimming instructors for people who have
  developmental disabilities required

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F.S. 514.072

• Any person working at a swimming pool who holds
  himself or herself out as a swimming instructor
  specializing in training people who have
  developmental disabilities, as defined in s.
  393.063(10), may be certified by the Dan Marino
  Foundation, Inc., in addition to being certified
  under s. 514.071. The Dan Marino Foundation,
  Inc., must develop certification requirements and
  a training curriculum for swimming instructors
  for people who have developmental disabilities
  and must submit the certification requirements to
  the Department of Health for review by January 1,
  2007. A person certified under s. 514.071 before
  July 1, 2007, must meet the additional
  certification requirements of this section before
  January 1, 2008. A person certified under s.
  514.071 on or after July 1, 2007, must meet the
  additional certification requirements of this
  section within 6 months after receiving
  certification under s. 514.071.

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How You Can Help

• Clarify language in state statute
• Special Needs vs. Disabilities
• Disabilities omits those who are visually or
  hearing impaired

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How You Can Help

• Clarify language in state statute
• Unclear as to who needs to be certified
• Specializing in trainingWhat does it mean to
  specialize?
• May be certifiedDoes that mean its
  optional?
• Unclear as to whether one center is the only
  place to be certified

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How You Can Help

• Identify the state agency that is responsible for
  communicating and enforcing legislation for swim
  schools and instructors
• Many experienced swim instructors didnt know
  legislation was passed or in effect when we spoke
  to them. Who is responsible for informing them or
  verifying compliance?

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How You Can Help

• Remember that Water Safety also implies measures
  beyond the waters edge
• Backyard pools arent only risk
• Why not fence other bodies of water?
• Create an exception for parents guardians of
  special-needs children to permit them to fence
  their property despite association rules against
  it.

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Conclusion
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Questions?

• For more information visitwww.christopherconnect
  ions.orgwww.myspace.com/christopherconnectionsinc
  
• Write or Call christopherconnections_at_gmail.com95
  4-594-4833