Adaptive Water Safety Party

Swim Angelfish hosted our first annual Adaptive Water Safety Party on July 8, 2023! We partnered with the EQUIP pro-bono clinic at Quinnipiac University to create this special event for our community, where 26 Physical Therapy students volunteered for this event. We collaborated with the students for 6 months prior to the event, planning for success and ensuring it was meaningful for both the students as well as the families that attended.

Collaborating with Water Safety Partners

Adaptive Water Safety Party
Adaptive Water Safety Party

The students made over 60 aquatic themed sensory bottles for the children who attended. We also partnered with two large non-profit water safety organizations; the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation and Stop Drowning Now. We had an exciting in-person visit from Josh the Otter, which one of our volunteers proudly wore as a life-sized costume to entertain the kids. We read his story to the group to promote the importance of their message ‘swim-float-swim’ when you are in the water. We shared specialized safety tips from our adaptive water safety toolkit as well. Stop Drowning Now generously provided coloring books and word searches related to water safety, that the families could also take home.

Experiencing Adaptive Water Safety In-Person

The Swim Angelfish Staff ran 3 in-water stations for our swimmers to experience.

Our in-water stations focused on:

Adaptive Water Safety Party - life jackets
Adaptive Water Safety Party - Using Rescue Equipment
Adaptive Water Safety Party - Practicing Safe Routines

  • 3. Practicing Safe Routines
    Independent swimmers learned a routine to keep them safe should they ever experience falling into a body of water. This involved jumping into deep water, swimming to the side, making a train along the wall to the ladder, and safely climbing out.

Some additional things we practiced were patiently waiting and making sure the area was safe before jumping in and always asking permission from an adult before going into the water for everyone.

Getting Involved with our next Adaptive Water Safety Party

This event was for individuals with special needs that are part of our Swim Angelfish program. We hope to expand this incredible opportunity next year, to reach more members of our community. Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on our social channels to be the first to know about our next event!

If you want more information on how to help your swimmer become safer in the water, download our free adaptive water safety kit today!

Looking for Aquatic Therapist Training?

We can give you the tools you need to help special needs clients achieve therapy goals and improve their independence in the water.

Learn new treatment and handling techniques, understand how to integrate reflexes and overcome roadblocks to help your pediatric clients achieve their therapy goals. We have 4 in-depth online courses to choose from.

Our online training courses will help you strengthen your aquatic therapy skills and allow you to earn CEU’s. Our on-demand platform makes learning flexible to fit into your schedule.

Dive into Our Specialized Pediatric Aquatic Therapy Program!

The unique program that Swim Angelfish offers is created by an OT/PT team with over 60 years combined experience. We have experienced Recreation, Occupational, and Physical therapists who are specifically trained in pediatric aquatic therapy. We use a fun, innovative and multi-sensory approach using the therapeutic properties of the water to reach your specific therapy goals.

We can help improve self-regulation, motor coordination, strength, balance, endurance, and more. There are several options for therapy sessions depending on your needs, including private, semi-private, and small group sessions.

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.