Arbor Swims

Aquatic Therapy, Water Safety, and Swim Lessons for Children with Autism

Arbor Swims helps children and teens with autism build confidence, safety, and independence in the water. Our aquatic therapy program combines water safety instruction, swim skill development, and occupational therapy in a fun, supportive environment designed for children with autism and other special needs.

Services are provided by a licensed occupational therapist who is also a certified lifeguard and an Aquatic Safety Autism Program (ASAP) Certified Provider, bringing specialized expertise in autism, water safety, and therapeutic intervention.

Who Can Benefit from Aquatic Therapy?

Our aquatic therapy program serves children and teens ages 6 months to 17 years who:

Need to improve water safety awareness and swimming skills
Experience sensory challenges related to water activities
Want to learn to swim or strengthen existing swim abilities
Benefit from occupational therapy in a motivating, water-based environment
Need support with coordination, strength, communication, or social engagement

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy

The unique properties of water create opportunities for learning, movement, and sensory regulation that can be difficult to achieve in traditional settings. Through aquatic therapy, children can develop:

Water safety and drowning prevention skills
Swimming confidence and endurance
Motor coordination and body awareness
Strength, balance, and physical fitness
Social interaction and communication skills
Self-confidence and independence

Insurance-Friendly Occupational Therapy Services

Because aquatic therapy is provided as occupational therapy, services may be eligible for insurance coverage.

Ready to get started?

Complete our New Patient Intake Form to join the waitlist for aquatic therapy at Arbor Autism Centers.

New Patient Intake

Asap

Aquatic Safety Autism Program

The Autism Aquatics Safety Program (ASAP) provides comprehensive training for professionals seeking to improve water safety, inclusion, and aquatic skill development for individuals with autism. Through educational courses, certification pathways, and ongoing mentorship, ASAP equips providers with the tools needed to create safe, successful aquatic experiences.

ASAP Director

Katelynn Kemski is an Aquatic Safety Autism Program Certified Provider, certified lifeguard, and occupational therapist specializing in autism treatment. She pursued these certifications and developed programming to offer water safety/skill lessons to children, teens, and adults with autism and other special needs in order to meet the growing demand in the community. Resources for water safety and swim lessons for individuals with autism are very limited, even though drowning risks are significantly higher within this population. Katelynn's mission is to decrease drowning rates for individuals with special needs.