Drowning Prevention

Five Reasons Children with Autism are Drawn to Water.

1. Many children with autism enjoy swimming more than children without ASD.

2. Many children with autism are naturally drawn to water for its calming, sensory experience.

3. Many children with autism are prone to wandering (also known as elopement) from their parents or caregivers.

4. Many children with autism consider water play a preferred activity.

5. Many children with autism have a lack of awareness of dangerous situations.

Drowning is the #1 cause of death in autism and Florida leads the way in child drownings resulting in death. Kids with ASD are 160 times more likely to experience nonfatal and fatal drowning than their neurotypical peers.

“There’s this notion that it could never happen to you, but it does. It happens frequently here in Florida,” said Florida Department of Health-Orange Health Officer Dr. Robert D. Karch. “No matter the educational level, socioeconomic level, it happens across the board.”

The Autism Society of Florida provides training to swim instructors on how to teach kids and adults with autism to swim, advocates legislatively for drowning prevention initiatives, and provides grants to programs that support people with autism.

​We rely on your donations to continue our work to help save lives like this Water Safety Checklist to keep children with autism safe this summer.

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