COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nineteen children on the autistic spectrum learned how to swim safely, thanks to a new pilot program at The Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.    

What You Need To Know

  •  Nineteen children on the autism spectrum participated in the pilot program    

  •  Students learn how to swim underwater, hold their breath, maintain their balance and float among other skills

  • The program is expanding to include 36 additional children

Heather Telford enrolled her two daughters, Ivy and Lily in the program. Ivy recently graduated.

“She was never scared of the water, which actually scares me,” Telford said.

According to the National Autism Association, drowning is among the top causes of death in children with autism.

"But since we’ve done this program, she is fully swimming confidently in 10,12 feet of water and that makes me feel so much better.”

According to the medical center, the program's results showed children improved not only their swimming skills, but also built physical, behavioral and social skills through interacting with the instructors. 

"It’s really important to teach them to swim because they often are drawn to water, so our group is more individualized than what your average, typical swim lesson is at a community center," Erika Kemp said, a clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy at Ohio State University's School of Health and Rehabilitation Services. She also leads the adaptive swim classes.