Swim Angelfish Hosts Adaptive Water Safety Event in Wilton, CT

Swim Angelfish, in partnership with the Wilton YMCA and The PT students from the Equip Rehab Program at Quinnipiac University, hosted the third annual All-Inclusive Adaptive Water Safety Event in Wilton, Connecticut.

Bringing together children with autism, sensory needs, anxiety, motor challenges, and other learning differences for a fun and supportive day focused on water safety, confidence, and inclusion was our goal.

Designed specifically for swimmers who may experience barriers in traditional aquatic environments, this free community event provided families with the opportunity to explore the water in a welcoming environment while learning essential water safety skills through adaptive, individualized support.

At Swim Angelfish, we believe water safety begins with creating positive and successful experiences in the water. By combining adaptive teaching strategies, sensory considerations, and a deep understanding of each swimmer’s unique needs, we help children build the confidence and skills they need to participate safely in aquatic environments.

Creating Inclusive Opportunities to Learn Water Safety

Water safety is a life-saving skill for every child, but many children with special needs or disabilities face additional challenges when learning how to safely interact with water.

Throughout the event, participants rotated thought a variety of interactive water safety stations. These were designed using the same principles that guide Swim Angelfish’s adaptive aquatics approach featured in the Adaptive Water Safety Toolkit resource. Activities included:

  • Familiarizing swimmers with safety equipment and rescue tools
  • Practicing a movement-based routine in conjunction with asking permission prior to getting in the water
  • Building comfort and confidence in the water
  • Practicing water entry and submersion skills
  • Learning important water safety concepts through hands-on experiences

Families also enjoyed sensory-friendly activities outside of the water, including crafts, games, and activities from the Swim Angelfish All Abilities Activity Book. Participants had the opportunity to touch and explore rescue equipment, use supportive visuals like our foam stop sign, visual schedule puzzle pieces, and engage with tools designed to make water safety learning interactive and meaningful.

A Community Coming Together to Support Water Safety

This event was made possible through the incredible support of community partners, volunteers, and aquatic professionals who helped create an inclusive experience for every participant.

A special thank you to:

  • The Wilton YMCA team, including Aquatics Director Liam Colleran who helped coordinate the event, ensured access to the outdoor pool and lakefront area, and helped create a smooth experience for families.

  • Quinnipiac University Equip Rehabilitation with students from the DPT program, along with their teacher Linda Bedard, who volunteered their time and expertise.
  • Laurie Houseknecht and her team from Stewie the Duck Swim School and the Stew Leonard III Foundation for providing snacks for participating families and swim instructors to assist with the event.
  • Apex Social au pairs for volunteering to assist with the beach front games.
  • Ailene Tisser and The Swim Angelfish staff who helped bring this event to life.

The event also attracted aquatic professionals from outside the local community, including swim instructors from MVP Swim School in the Bronx and an Aquatic Director from a Rhode Island YMCA who drove down to see the event in action. After experiencing the impact of this event firsthand, both organizations expressed interest in investing in Swim Whisperers® training to continue expanding inclusive aquatic opportunities within their own programs.

Helping Families Build Confidence Around Water

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was seeing children who may have previously struggled with being in the water begin to feel comfortable, confident, and successful.

One family, who are currently on our waitlist for a spot in our adaptive learn to swim program, travelled more than an hour and a half to attend. Their child was considered very high risk around water, and the parent had been hesitant to begin traditional swim lessons. Watching him participate in the activities, engage with the water, and experience success was a powerful reminder of why adaptive water safety opportunities are so important.

Hear what this Mom has to say about this incredible water safety event.

The event concluded with a free swim in the lake, allowing participants to put their new skills into practice in a real-world environment. Seeing the excitement on the swimmers’ faces, and the pride from their families, was a highlight of the day.

Expanding Access to Adaptive Water Safety

At Swim Angelfish, our mission is to transform abilities through adaptive aquatics by helping children of all abilities develop confidence, independence, and safety skills in and around water.

Events like this demonstrate what is possible when families, aquatic professionals, therapists, and community organizations come together to create inclusive opportunities. Every child deserves the chance to experience the joy of swimming while developing the skills that can help keep them safer around water.

Thank you to everyone who supported this incredible event. Together, we are making water safety more accessible, more inclusive, and more successful for swimmers of all abilities.

Talk to us about how you can bring adaptive water safety to your community.

Ailene Tisser, MA, PT, Founder

Ailene Tisser, a pediatric Physical Therapist with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Swim Angelfish® and the Swim Whisperers® method, specializes in aquatic therapy and adaptive swim for children with special needs. Trained in NDT, DIR/Floortime, and certified as an Autism Specialist and Primitive Reflex Specialist she fosters water safety, confidence, and independence in her young clients. Ailene is also passionate about educating aquatic professionals, setting a standard of excellence for adaptive aquatics training and professional development.

Cindy Freedman, MOTR, Founder

Cindy, MS, OTR/L is an occupational and recreational therapist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pediatrics and aquatics. Driven by a passion for helping children with special needs reach their full potential, Cindy co-founded Swim Angelfish, an organization dedicated to providing adaptive swim and aquatic therapy services as well as professional training. Her expertise in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics, coupled with her love for water and experience as a national champion diver, has enabled her to make a profound impact on the lives of countless children. Cindy is certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES, and shows an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children with special needs.