Strategies for Teaching Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Recreational Aquatics Programs

With the increase in the identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, there is a need for teachers and coaches to have a tool box of effective strategies to facilitate physical activities for their students with ASD. Physical activity has been shown to provide numerous benefits, such as improved resilience and enhanced positive development. Swimming, specifically, is an optimal form of physical activity for children with ASD and an important life skill, considering that drowning is a leading cause of death among children with ASD. Training programs and educational opportunities for accessing appropriate strategies to teach children with ASD are seemingly scarce. This article aims to minimize this lack of resources by suggesting hands-on teaching strategies for aquatic programs for children with ASD to enhance the swimmers' opportunities to participate in recreational aquatic activities.