Making Water Safety Accessible to All Children

Our partnership with the Only Alpha Pools Product Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation is a game-changer. By funding the Swim Whisperers® Certification Program, OAPP empowers swim instructors to gain the skills needed to teach children with special needs, ultimately saving lives.

Making An Impact with the OAPP Scholarship

Providing adaptive swim training and education that is accessible to all is something we are passionate about.

Our partnership with the Only Alpha Pools Product Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation has been critical in enabling swim instructors to get trained in our Swim Whisperers® Certification Program, regardless of their socio-economic background through the adaptive swim training scholarship.

Making an impact across the globe, and here in the United States, for kids with special needs who may not be receiving the adaptive swim teaching experience they need, fuels our joint mission.

We support the OAPP Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation in promoting water safety to individuals with Down Syndrome and/or other disabilities who are twice as likely to drown due to lack of water safety skills. Only Alpha Pool Products, is dedicated to helping reduce drowning statistics by offering financial support to swim instructors seeking to receive swim certifications to teach a more adaptive approach.

A Near-Drowning Experience of Son with Down Syndrome Brought this Mom to Swim Angelfish

Meet Caitlin, Co-Founder of the OAPP Down Syndrome Advocacy Program. Caitlin came across Swim Angelfish in her search to find swim lessons for her son with Down Syndrome, after a terrifying event where her son jumped into Lake Michigan. He had a life jacket on, however, with his low-muscle tone, he could not lift his head and neck out of the water.

Thankfully, Caitlin was able to act quickly and get to him, but she knew she needed to find swim lessons with someone who had experience with disabilities. Enter Swim Angelfish!

Having firsthand experience with the effectiveness of the Swim Angelfish Swim Whisperers® program she founded the OAPP Down Syndrome Advocacy Program which uses donations to help swim instructors achieve Swim Angelfish’s Swim Whisperers® certification, levels 1-4.

Making Waves Around the Globe

Since its inception in 2021, this scholarship program has helped to fund adaptive swim instructor training for hundreds of dedicated professionals across the United States and beyond. In just three short years, we’ve seen incredible growth in the number of swim instructors empowered to provide specialized instruction to swimmers with disabilities.

The impact of this scholarship is truly global. In 2021 alone, we funded 191 individuals in 32 states and 8 countries. This number skyrocketed to 445 in 2022, and even though it dipped slightly in 2023, we’re incredibly thankful to OAPP for their generous funding for swim instructor training.

– explained Ailene Tisser.

To date, we’ve proudly supported adaptive swim instructor training across all 50 U.S. states and 14 countries spanning 6 continents. This global reach has been made possible thanks to the dedication of our team and partners, and is something we are so proud of!

– added Cindy Freedman.

The ripple effect of this scholarship program is even more apparent in the difference we are making to improve the lives of individuals with special needs as well as playing a leading role in fostering a more inclusive and accessible aquatic community.

– Caitlin, OAPP.

Spotlight on Success

Carlos Mejia, the owner of Wahoos of Jacksonville, was thrilled to learn about the Swim Whisperers® adaptive training program in summer 2021. After more than 15 years of coaching and teaching swim lessons, Carlos and his wife were looking for a way to improve their instruction and reach more students with special needs. They were both impressed by the program’s focus on adaptive tools and techniques, which would allow them to provide more individualized attention to each student.

Carlos and his wife received an OAPP Scholarship and enrolled in the Swim Whisperers® Certification Level 1 program and were immediately hooked. They learned about a variety of adaptive tools, including weights on hands and feet and a visual schedule, that they could use to make swim lessons more fun and engaging for their students. They also learned how to modify swim strokes and drills to make them more accessible for students with disabilities.

Thanks to the OAPP Scholarship and Swim Whisperers® program, Carlos and his wife have been able to significantly improve their swim lesson delivery and engagement with students of all abilities. They are now able to offer more specialized instruction to students with special needs, and they are confident that they are providing the best possible experience for all of their students.

Get Involved

The number of students requiring special education services has been steadily increasing. In the 2022-23 school year, 15% of all public school students received these services. This trend could partly be linked to the rising prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with 1 in 31 children now diagnosed. Over 3 million children in the United States have a disability, and the rate continues to grow.

Given these statistics, it’s highly likely that swim instructors are encountering children with special needs in their traditional learn-to-swim programs. Parents of these children often express frustration at the difficulty of finding instructors equipped to address their child’s unique learning and physical needs.

This situation exemplifies the importance of supporting the OAPP Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation Scholarship program. By providing funding for adaptive swim instructor training, this program helps parents find effective instructors for their children. Additionally, it empowers swim instructors with the confidence and skills needed to teach children with special needs, ultimately helping these children achieve swim success.

Can you help? Donate today and help individuals with disabilities become safer in, near, and around water.

Are you a swim instructor who needs financial support to gain adaptive swim teaching skills? Apply for the scholarship.

Together, we’re transforming the world of adaptive swimming. By supporting the OAPP Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation Scholarship program, you can help us empower more swim instructors and create a more inclusive aquatic community.

Whether you’re a parent seeking a qualified instructor for your child or a swim instructor looking to expand your skills, there are opportunities to get involved. Let’s work together to ensure that everyone has the chance to learn to swim and enjoy the countless benefits it offers.

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.