1. 5/7/2012
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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The Whole Truth…
•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)
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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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Teaching Concerns
VERY IMPORTANT PERSON
VARY IN PROGRAM
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Teaching Concerns
TUNING OUT
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Teaching Concerns
SEIZURES
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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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Christian Early
FORMULA 5
COMMUNICATION
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Christian Early
SETTING THE EXAMPLE
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Christian Early
FORMULA 5
BEHAVIOR
MANAGEMENT
THE
STEP APPROACH
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Christian Early
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Christian Early
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Christian Early
FORMULA 5
SOCIAL INTERACTION
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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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Alec Cammaratta
FORMULA 5
BEHAVIOR
MANAGEMENT
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Alec Cammaratta
FORMULA 5
MOTIVATION/REINFORCEMENT
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Alec Cammaratta
FORMULA 5
COMMUNICATION
HEY, HEY, WE’RE THE MONKEYS!
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Alec Cammaratta
“2 HANDS”
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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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Danny Lopez
THE “POWER OF 3”
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Danny Lopez FORMULA 5
BEHAVIOR
MANAGEMENT
THE
STEP APPROACH
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Danny Lopez
OVER THE BRIDGE
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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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Nakeem Rose
FORMULA 5
CAREGIVER PARTICIPATION
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Nakeem Rose
BEGIN
WITH
BASICS
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Nakeem Rose
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Nakeem Rose
J IH E G
A B F
C D
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FORMULA 5
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
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Nakeem Rose
THE
GREATEST
TEACHER!
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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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Charles Wingold
FORMULA 5
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
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Charles Wingold
Owning His Behavior
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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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Neil Hinds
SLOW & STEADY WINS THE RACE
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Neil Hinds
Show Me State of Mind
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Neil Hinds
Hot Dog Rolls
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Neil Hinds
COLD WATER ISSUES
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Neil Hinds
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Neil Hinds
J IH E G
A B F
C D
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Neil Hinds
OVER THE BRIDGE
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Neil Hinds
Interactive Metronome Therapy
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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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