Swimming
The leading cause of death for Autistic children is accidental drowning, particularly in connection with wandering or elopement behaviors. Research shows that children with Autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than their neurotypical peers.
The Water and Wandering Initiative is a national effort by the Autism Society to increase water safety education and training across the Autism community to decrease the tragic loss of life caused by water and wandering-related accidents. Locally, we are pleased to provide a list of swimming programs for individuals with Autism and developmental disabilities.
Reminder: If you are an Inland Regional Center client, we encourage you to speak to your consumer services coordinator (CSC) about potential funding for swimming lessons through Social Recreation.
Why Bathing Suit Color May Matter
Brightly colored bathing suits are important for children with Autism, especially those with complex needs, because they improve visibility in water. Neon colors like orange, yellow, and green stand out in pools, lakes, and oceans, making it easier for caregivers or lifeguards to spot a child quickly. This is especially critical since autistic children may be more likely to wander and are at higher risk for drowning. Choosing a visible, comfortable swimsuit can help keep them safe while also supporting their sensory needs.
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For additional resources visit https://autismsociety.org/water-and-wandering/
Local Swim Lessons
Aqua Tots
https://www.aqua-tots.com/swim-levels/additional-swim-services/
8750 Base Line Rd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA
[email protected]
(909) 259-0500
Special Needs Aquatic Program (S.N.A.P.) is designed to create lessons tailored to each child’s special needs and abilities. Class serves children diagnosed with behavioral, developmental, learning, medical or mental challenges. Ages 4 months to 12 years old.
Big Kahuna Swim Academy
https://bigkahunaswim.com/
[email protected]
(909) 273-9680
Private, one-on-one swim lessons in one of their heated pools (Norco or Riverside), and mobile swim lessons (we come to your pool). All ages, from infants to adults.
British Swim School
https://britishswimschool.com/
[email protected]
(844) 576-2796
Offers indoor, year round lessons to individuals of all ages (3 months to adult) with special abilities. Our special abilities aquatics program takes our traditional methods and adapts them into a specially designed program to work with swimmers of any ability, making them feel comfortable and safer in the water. Our special abilities program offers two levels, Dolphin 1 and 2, which are tailored to each individual student and focus on their strengths and abilities. Different locations throughout Southern California, please check the website for location nearest you.
Cogua Aquatics
https://swimminglessonschinohills.com/
14523 Ramona Ave., Chino, CA
[email protected]
(909) 227-1845
Indoor year round swimming lessons in salt water pool. Adaptive-certified instructors tailor lessons for Autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and more. All ages.
Desert Recreation District – Adaptive Aquatics
https://www.myrecreationdistrict.com/
(760) 347-3484
Provides step by step instructions through specific drills designed to establish basic skills in swimming and water safety through 1-on-1 instruction in a 30minute class. Program is for individuals who have a diagnosed disability. Registration required.
Desert Swim Academy
https://desertswimacademy.com/
Coachella Valley, CA
[email protected]
(760) 835-3305
Offers private, in home swim lessons. Offers flexible teaching techniques that will help your loved one create an enjoyable swimming lesson. Ages 4 months and older.
Fontana Park Aquatic Center – Aquability Lessons
https://www.fontana.org/2566/Fontana-Park-Aquatic-Center
15610 Summit Ave., Fontana, CA
(909) 854-5111
Special Needs Swim Lessons for Ages four years and older. Students enrolled will range in all ages and abilities with different intellectual and physical disabilities. Students will be swim tested and placed together based on ability during the first-class meeting. Registration required. Summer and Fall classes only.
French Valley Swim Academy
https://frenchvalleyswimacademy.com/
36560 Penfield Lane, Winchester, CA
(951) 764-2292
Teaches swimming at any age, any ability, year round in a salt water pool. Instructors have received special training/classes working with children with Autism.
Kelsey’ Heroes
https://kelseysheroes.org/
P.O. Box 2880, Indio, CA
(760) 391-0133
Kelsey’s Heroes Program is focused on providing opportunities to all the kids in the Coachella Valley with special needs to enjoy and develop in sports and social gatherings. Sports all year around, to keep the kids busy and happy to participate in the activities. Also, four big parties through the year to enforce the family-community bond. It is all about the kids! Baseball, swimming, softball, and basketball.
Life Saver Aquatics
https://lifesaveraquatics.com/
39614 Tamarisk St., Murrieta, CA
(951) 460-0024
Adaptive swimming is a specialized program designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities or special needs. Lessons focus on creating a safe, supportive environment with a great deal of patience and specialized techniques utilized to help develop swimming skills for those who may need alternative techniques. First 5 Riverside County Swimming Lessons Scholarship available for low-income families or families receiving public assistance with children 5 years or younger.
Miss Selenia’s Happy Place
https://www.missseleniashappyplace.com/
15194 Pendleton Street, Hesperia, CA
[email protected]
(760) 713-6503
Private and small group swimming lessons for individuals of all ages and abilities. High Desert area. Monday- Friday hours.
Passion For Splashin’
https://passionswim.com/
Claremont, CA
[email protected]
(909) 957-5385
Private swimming lessons for students of all ages and abilities. Has over two decades of experience in teaching students of all abilities and is the mother of a child with Autism.
Phoenix Swim Academy
https://phoenixswimacademy.com/
28460 Marcalope Lane, Menifee, CA |(951) 467-2354
19901 Yorba Linda Blvd., A1, Yorba Linda, CA |(714) 621-5454
Year-round swimming lessons are offered in a customized saltwater lesson pool. Phoenix Swim Academy offers adaptive swim lessons for individuals with special needs. With over 30 years of hands-on experience, we proudly serve children and adults with Autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, sensory challenges, physical disabilities, and other developmental or cognitive conditions. Each of our instructors receives individualized, hands-on training in adaptive aquatics, including sensory-friendly strategies, nonverbal communication support, and skill modifications tailored to each student’s needs. All team members are CPR-certified. Inland Regional Center vendor.
Premier Swim Academy
https://premierswimacademy.com/programs/rancho-cucamonga/sensory-swim-parent-and-me/
7827 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA |(909) 509-5700
1673 Maple Hill Road, Diamond Bar, CA |(909) 200-3676
Sensory Swim Parent and Me program is designed to provide students with adaptive learning needs a space to explore the water and learn crucial safety skills. Group setting, two different age groups; 3-11 years old and 12 years and older.
Riverside Parks and Recreation- Aquatics Program
https://www.riversideca.gov/park_rec/programs-sports/aquatics/swim-lessons
6927 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA
(951) 826-2000
The City of Riverside Aquatics program along with Swim Angel Fish provides a fun and safe environment while developing swimmers’ abilities based on individual needs, providing them with tools and skills necessary to become a successful swimmer. This class is for special needs children and young adults. To apply for adaptive swim lessons, please register at RivReg.org.
RSL Aquatics
https://rslaquatics.com/
331 E. Foothill Blvd., Upland, CA
(909) 851-3491
Private classes offered for children and adults of all ages and abilities from 6 months to adult. Weekday and weekend classes offered.
Schurkman Lil Sharks
Jared Schurkman
[email protected]
(951) 751-4391
12 years of experience teaching children with Autism to swim. ABA therapist working with children for four years.
Sunsational Swim School
https://www.sunsationalswimschool.com/swimming-lessons/Inland-Empire-CA
(909) 285-2294
Private, one-to-one swim lessons in your own pool. Sunsational Swim School offers special needs swim lessons. Experienced instructors teach one-on-one lessons for children with Autism, ADHD, sensory challenges, physical disabilities, and more. The goal is to help special needs students build water confidence, improve fitness and learn essential water safety skills.
Temecula Community Services- Adaptive Swim Lesson
https://temeculaca.gov/408/Adaptive-Swim-Lessons
Margarita Recreational Center Pool: 29119 Margarita Rd., Temecula, CA
(951) 308-6396
[email protected]
Adaptive swim class is designed to provide children with a mental or physical disability the opportunity to learn and improve swimming skills, maintain and increase physical fitness. Ages: 3-15 years with special needs. Registration required. Summer lessons only.
The Aquatic Zone
https://theaquaticzone.com/
1138 E. 6th St., #103, Corona, CA
[email protected]
(951) 739-4300
Adaptive aquatics instructors have experience teaching the necessary skills for children with a variety of special needs. All ages, 30 minutes class length with 1:1 Student-Teacher ratio.
Victorville Aquatics Program– Special Needs
https://www.victorvilleca.gov/government/city-departments/community-services/recreation/aquatics-in-season
Doris Davies Park: 16305 Hughes Rd., Victorville, CA
[email protected]
(760) 245-5551
Participants ages 3 & up in the water with Lifeguard present for instruction & guidance. The class focuses on water orientation and safety. Offered during summer only.
Waterworks Aquatics
https://www.waterworksswim.com/lesson-detail/adaptive-swimming-lessons
14485 Pipeline Ave., Chino, CA
3437 Arlington Ave., Riverside, CA
(949) 450-0777
Adaptive swim lesson program is designed specifically for children with special needs. Learning to swim is not only a lifesaving skill but also boosts self-confidence and improves coordination, balance, strength, and range of motion. Scheduling swim lessons with Waterworks is easy! We offer flexible scheduling. You can start and stop lessons at any time. Located inside LA Fitness.
YMCA of the East Valley
https://ymcaeastvalley.org/swim-lessons/
500 E. Citrus Avenue, Redlands, CA
[email protected]
(909) 798-9622
Offers an adaptive aquatic class, Parent-Child class, for children ages 5-18, with special needs. The goal of this class is to get your child comfortable in the water, teach them how to be safe around water, and become independent swimmers.
Yucaipa Aquatics-Adaptive Swim Lessons
https://yucaipa.gov/aquatics/
12385 7th Street, Yucaipa, CA
[email protected]
(909) 790-7460
Enrolled students will span a wide range of ages and abilities, including various intellectual and physical disabilities. Swim tests will be conducted during the initial class, and students will be grouped based on their abilities. No swim test required. Summer lessons only.
Autism Society Options Policy
This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.
All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion.
