Children With Autism Learn Water Safety At Columbia Swim School

COLUMBIA, MD — Summertime means playing in the pool, wading into the waters and frolicking at aquatic centers for most kids. But for children with autism, sources of water can quickly become life-threatening.

According to Autism Speaks, kids with autism face a significantly higher risk of drowning and other water‑related accidents than their non‑autistic peers. That's because many are naturally drawn to water, as it can look, sound and feel deeply calming. But for those who wander or have limited water safety skills, that attraction can quickly become dangerous.

In fact, a U.S. study from 2016–2020 found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had more than twice the odds of an unintentional drowning-related emergency visit compared with non-autistic children.

Mom Ebony Crawford-Sealy and her husband, Christopher, are parents to Xavier, who has level three autism. They enrolled Xavier in the Golden Learners program at Goldfish Swim School Columbia.

Golden Learners is an adaptive swim program specifically designed for children with autism and other disabilities to provide individualized support at a comfortable pace.

"Xavier absolutely loves the Golden Learners program. It provides a structured, supportive and sensory-friendly environment where he feels safe, engaged and successful. My husband and I have seen his confidence grow so much, and that means everything to us as parents," Ebony Crawford-Sealy told Patch.

Crawford-Sealy said she's seen how water can be calming and appealing for those with autism, but that interest also "comes with real safety concerns."

"For our family, water safety is critical. It’s not just a skill, it can be lifesaving. Teaching our son how to swim builds his confidence and independence, while also giving us peace of mind. Programs like Golden Learners make it possible in a way that truly supports his needs," she told Patch.

Hayley Combs, assistant general manager of Goldfish Swim School Columbia, told Patch that the Golden Learners Program celebrates the different ways children learn.

"The program provides our teachers with additional training and tools—such as sensory toys and timers—to support students who benefit from more individualized teaching techniques. We also utilize a swimmer information packet to collaborate with parents on specific goals and communication styles, ensuring we work together to achieve extraordinary results," Combs said.

During Autism Acceptance Month, Goldfish Swim School Columbia hosted a free sensory-friendly family swim night that was overwhelmingly well-received by the community.

Combs told Patch that the swim school dimmed the lights, lowered the music volume and provided specialized toys like pop-its, textured balls and foam noodles to make their facility sensory-friendly. They also gave a water safety presentation.

"The turnout for the sensory-friendly family swim night was amazing; we reached full capacity for reservations. It was wonderful to see the community show such support for our message of autism acceptance and inclusion," she said. "We also held two separate swim sessions to reduce the number of people in the pool at one time, creating a more relaxed environment for swimmers"

During the sensory-friendly family swim night, Crawford-Sealy read from her new book, "What Makes Me Awesome: An Autism Acceptance Story," which was inspired by Xavier. The book reached No. 1 on Amazon's hot new release list this year.

"My husband and I were inspired to write 'What Makes Me Awesome: An Autism Acceptance Story' through our journey raising Xavier. We wanted to create something that reflects his strengths, celebrates who he is and helps others see children with autism through a lens of acceptance rather than limitation. It was important for us to give him, and children like him, a voice," Crawford-Sealy told Patch.

The couple also created the book to serve as a tool for families, educators, therapists and others to help educate others about autism while promoting empathy, understanding and advocacy in classrooms and communities, she said.

"Our book focuses on autism acceptance, confidence and advocacy. It highlights the strengths and abilities of children on the autism spectrum while helping readers better understand differences in communication, behavior and sensory needs. We created it as a tool for families and classrooms to spark meaningful conversations about empathy, inclusion and celebrating what makes each child unique," Crawford-Sealy told Patch.

The book can be found online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart, or from Crawford-Sealy on her website.