---
date: "2025-04-13"
speaker: "Kayla Hamner & Lisa Mische Lawson"
organization: "KU Sensory Enhanced Aquatics"
topic: "Swimming and Water Safety for Children with Autism"
blurb: "Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a swimming and water safety program for children with autism spectrum disorders."
---

# Kayla Hamner & Lisa Mische Lawson - Swimming and Water Safety for Children with Autism

**Date:** 2025-04-13  
**Organization:** KU Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

> Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a swimming and water safety program for children with autism spectrum disorders.

## Notes from April 13th - Kayla Hamner & Lisa Mische Lawson - KU Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

Most crucial piece of advice from Lisa: **Start a precedent now that once you are at the pool, your children have to ask your permission before entering the water.**

### About the Speakers:
- [Lisa Mische Lawson](https://www.kumc.edu/lmische-lawson.html) is a professor of Occupational Therapy at KUMC and director of the therapeutic science doctoral program
- Kayla Hamner was a former OT student and graduate research assistant of Lisa's at KU. She is the program manager of SEA.

### SEA Program:
- [KU Sensory Enhanced Aquatics](https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-health-professions/academics/departments/occupational-therapy-education/outreach/ku-sensory-enhanced-aquatics.html)
- Designed to teach children with autism and other sensory processing disorders how to swim and be safe around water
- Began 5 years ago. Runs in 4 seasonal intervals (8-14 weeks each)
- Cost: ~$14 per 30min session (~$200 for a 14-week interval) — comparable to community swim lessons
- 1-on-1 instructors (typically PT/OT/SLP students from KUMC)
- Modified Red Cross curriculum with evidence-based techniques (visual schedules, token economy, behavior shaping). Still [US Swim](https://university.usaswimming.org/landing) Approved.
- ~60 slots open per season. **Sessions fill within 30 seconds** of signups opening. Sign up for the mailing list early!

### Schedule (Summer 2025):
- Mondays @ Lenexa Rec Center YOUTH (4-18 yrs) — June 2nd–Aug 4th: 5:45, 6:20, 7:00
- Wednesdays @ Merriam Community Center ADULT (18+) — June 4th–Aug 6th: 6:30 and 7:25
- Thursdays @ Merriam Community Center YOUTH (4-18 yrs) — June 5th–Aug 7th: 6:00, 6:35, 7:10
- Wed/Fri mornings @ Fairway City Pool YOUTH (biweekly, 4 weeks = 8 lessons)

### Ongoing Study:
- Comparing SEA students vs typical community swim classes; sample size 40
- Initial results: students in both SEA and typical classes show similar development in swim skills — possibly due to peer-to-peer reinforcement in group lessons

### Broader Mission:
- Community centers often turn away children with autism. KU SEA is developing a curriculum for these learners that can be implemented at community centers nationwide
- [5 detailed instructional videos](https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-health-professions/academics/departments/occupational-therapy-education/outreach/ku-sensory-enhanced-aquatics.html) available so you can teach your swimmer yourself

### Swimming Advice:
- **Require children to ask permission before entering the water** — even at the pool. Shows them water requires caution.
- If your child drinks pool water, try a chewy toy or ball to redirect stimulation
- Research suggests **4yo** is when a child is typically old enough for swim lessons
- **Caution against "infant swim safety training"** for children with autism — they typically haven't developed fine motor strength to close their mouth quickly enough
- **Don't use floaty wings/life jackets for teaching** (great for safety, but for learning they need a noodle or bubble floatie to be horizontal)
- Tell your swim instructor about your child's diagnosis — ask for a para in community lessons
- Swim shirts and wet suits help address sensory aversions
- [Johnson County Developmental Supports Art Gallery](https://jcdsemergingartists-com.3dcartstores.com/) — artists with IDD showcase and sell their work