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Breaking the Shell

of Autism©

BY

DAN VAWTER

AQUACHAMPS SWIM SCHOOL

Copyright 2012 by AquaChamps Swim School all rights reserved. All rights reserved. Federal copyright law prohibits unauthorized reproduction by any means and imposes fines up to $25,000 for violation.

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What is Autism?

SPECTRUM DISORDER

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Difficulties Include:

VERBAL & NON-VERBAL

COMMUNICATION

SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

LEISURE OR PLAY ACTIVITIES

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Diagnosis

•Generally evident by age 3

•In 1990, the average age of diagnosis

was 4-6 years, and in 2000, the age was

30 months. (Neurology, 2000)

•Early diagnosis & intervention has

proven to be extremely beneficial.

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•1 in every 88 children is diagnosed with Autism.

•Autism is the 3rd most common developmental

disability in the USA.

(Center for Disease Control, 2007 & 2012)

The Whole Truth…

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NO FEAR

+BEING PRONE TO WANDER

+HEIGHTENED SENSORY SENSITIVITY

+WATER

=DANGER OF DROWNING

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So How Can We Swim Through

This Disorder?

Teaching a child with Autism

how to swim unassisted is

listed as one of the

components of the

National Autism

Association’s

“Autism Safety Toolkit”.

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BENEFITS OF SWIMMING

•LARGE MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT &

COORDINATION

•COGNITIVE PROCESSING

•RELAXATION

•BUILDS SELF ESTEEM

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VERY IMPORTANT PERSON

Teaching Concerns

VARY IN PROGRAM

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TUNING OUT

Teaching Concerns

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SEIZURESSEIZURESSEIZURESSEIZURES

Teaching Concerns

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Teaching Techniques

1) Make use of sameness & structure

2) Remove/reduce distractions

3) Structured transitions between activities

4) Utilize visual techniques

5) Be mindful of the length of each activity

6) Be patient

7) Self-exploration

8) Sensory Integration

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Sensory Integration

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AUTISM’S FORMULA 5

1)MOTIVATION/REINFORCEMENT

2)BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

3)COMMUNICATION

4)SOCIAL INTERACTION

5)CAREGIVER PARTICIPATION

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Christian Early

- Began at 19 years old

- No Fear, Loved everything

AQUATIC

- “BRUCE THE SHARK”

- Looking for exercise &

technique

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FORMULA 5

COMMUNICATION

Christian Early

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SETTING THE EXAMPLE

Christian Early

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THE

STEP APPROACH

FORMULA 5

BEHAVIOR

MANAGEMENT

Christian Early

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Christian Early

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Christian Early

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FORMULA 5

SOCIAL INTERACTION

Christian Early

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Christian Early

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Alec Cammaratta

- 5 YEARS OLD

- A HEALTHY, STRONG BOY

- HAD BEEN DOING LESSONS

- DRINKING THE POOL!

- VERY UNSAFE!!!

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FORMULA 5

BEHAVIOR

MANAGEMENT

Alec Cammaratta

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FORMULA 5

MOTIVATION/REINFORCEMENT

Alec Cammaratta

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HEY, HEY, WE’RE THE MONKEYS!

FORMULA 5

COMMUNICATION

Alec Cammaratta

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“2 HANDS”

Alec Cammaratta

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Danny Lopez

- 5 YEARS OLD

- CHRISTOPHER’S COUSIN

- HIGH-FUNTIONING & VERBAL

- GOAL WAS A SAFER SWIMMER

& EXERCISE ACTIVITY

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THE “POWER OF 3”

Danny Lopez

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THE

STEP APPROACH

Danny Lopez FORMULA 5

BEHAVIOR

MANAGEMENT

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OVER THE BRIDGE

Danny Lopez

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Danny Lopez

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Nakeem Rose

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE PRECIOUS THAN A ROSE?

- BEGAN AT 4 YEARS OLD

- CLASSMATE OF CHRISTOPHER & THE FIRST

PARTICIPANT IN THE

“AQUACHAMPS SWIM SCHOOL

AND CHRISTOPHER CONNECTIONS PROGRAM”

- NON-VERBAL

- NO SWIMMING BACKGROUND,

BUT LOVED THE WATER!

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FORMULA 5

CAREGIVER PARTICIPATION

Nakeem Rose

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BEGIN

WITH

BASICS

Nakeem Rose

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Nakeem Rose

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ABH E

C

J I

D

G

F

Nakeem Rose

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FORMULA 5

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

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THE

GREATEST

TEACHER!

Nakeem Rose

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Charles Wingold

- Began at 4 years old, raised by

single grandmother

- Limited Speech Patterns

- Auditory Processing Delay

- Behavioral and Aggression

issues

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FORMULA 5

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

Charles Wingold

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Owning His Behavior

Charles Wingold

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Charles Wingold

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Charles Wingold

- Joins our Advanced Strokes

Pre-Team

- Return of Aggressive

Behavior

- Sensory Overload

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Charles Wingold

TRANSITION TO COMPETITION

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Charles Wingold

FUTURE

OLYMPIAN

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Neil Hinds

- Began at 4 years old

- Non-Verbal, major

coordination issues

- Visual & Somatic Sensory

Issues

- Afraid of showers & water in

the face

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SLOW & STEADY WINS THE RACE

Neil Hinds

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Show Me State of Mind

Neil Hinds

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Hot Dog Rolls

Neil Hinds

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COLD WATER ISSUES

Neil Hinds

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Neil Hinds

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ABH E

C

J I

D

G

F

Neil Hinds

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OVER THE BRIDGE

Neil Hinds

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Interactive Metronome Therapy

Neil Hinds

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AND

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Proper swimming lessons are often

cost prohibitive & inaccessible!

Lifetime cost of raising a child with Autism ranges

from $3.5 million to $5 million…

The United States will spend an estimated $90

billion annually in costs for Autism.

(Autism Society of America)

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FLORIDA’S COMMITTMENT

APRIL 2006

FLORIDA HOUSE BILL 1319

INTERNATIONAL SWIM

INSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION

“ADAPTIVE AQUATICS CERTIFICATION”

WWW.SWIMINSTRUCTORS.ORG

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Get Connected

AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA

www.autism-society.org

AUTISM SPEAKS

www.autismspeaks.org

NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION

www.nationalautismassociation.org

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Get Connected

LOCAL SCHOOLS

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

CHILD PSYCHOLOGISTS

STATE SUPPORTED PROGRAMS

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HOW DOES YOUR

PROGRAM FIT INTO

THE PUZZLE?

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Yilmaz, Yanardag, Birkan and Bumin (2004)

Concluded that cardiorespiratory, flexibility, balance,

agility & strength increased and stereotypical

behaviors decreased after swimming.

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