Adapted Aquatics

Why the Water?

What are some possible benefits of including aquatics for student with disabilities?– Focus your responses more for a pull-out

setting.

Why the Water Kids (students) generally love

the water Safety: if possible everyone

should be able to stay afloat Great form of cardiovascular

exercise involving the whole body

Develop lifelong skills and feelings of accomplishment/self-worth

Freeing environment, help foster independence (leave the wheelchair and the crutches on the side)

Therapeutic pools (88-92 degrees) help relieve pain and promotes relaxation and joint mobility

– Contraindicated for MS

Immersion in water improves: Stroke volume, cardiac

output, work of breathing, oxygen delivery, blood flow…

Increase range of motion Reeducation of paralyzed

muscles Improved muscle strength

and endurance Stimulates the senses (skin

balance, visual, auditory) Can be too much for

students with autism

Pre-instruction Plan lessons with goals and objectives

related to IEP and based upon assessment data

Considerations– Is the water or air too cold? – Is there too much going on in the pool/noise?– Is there enough room for teachers, assistants,

participants and equipment?– Lifeguards/safety?

Equipment Available

Equipment Available

Equipment Available

PFD’s Assistive device when used

supplementally Flotation devices sometimes

gets in the way of strokes Sometimes used as ‘babysitters’.

Planning – What to Teach?

Learn to Swim– Special Olympics

Levels of Competency – Sherrill Model

Planning – YMCA Progressive Swim Levels and What You Might Assess

Personal safety.– Knowledge of entry

and exit– Knowledge of

personal limits– Pool rules– Deep vs. Shallow

Personal growth.– What are their

goals– Show me what

you can do

Planning – YMCA Progressive Swim Levels and What You Might Assess

Stroke development– Assess typical

strokes• Crawl, sidestroke,

breast, back

Rescue– Reaching– Extending – Throwing

Water sports and games– Can they sit on a

noodle?– Get on a raft or

tube?– Throw a ball to

another with balance?

Getting into the Water- Independent Transfers

Forward Pivot

Sliding Board Transfer

Standard Lift

Arms-through lift

Getting into the Water- Dependent Transfers

Getting into the WaterRamps and stairs (ADA compliant)

Getting into the Water

http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=12968&productid=185187&trail=22,12691,12963&discontinued=0

Getting into the Water

Wet the mat and slide the student into the water (safe, fast, and inexpensive)

Tot dock – sits in the shallow end of the pool

STRATEGIES TO COMMUNICATE

Establish a relationship and trust

What is the persons “primary” language

Check for understanding following explanations

Demonstrations Photos, picture

exchange Simplify language 1 direction at a time Ask person to repeat if

you don’t understand Communication board

Teaching Strategies/ Ideas

Hand over hand – guide through the movements

Visual display of activities or tasks to complete

Surfing

Teaching Strategies/ Ideas

Teaching Strategies/ Ideas

Assisted Ambulation

Flotation with hand over hand (again)

Teaching Strategies/Ideas

Vital capacity (lung)

Diving lead-up

Sample Activities- see linked file

Resistance Exercises

Moving arm through the water– Add resistance through a webbed glove,

holding a lolli-pop paddle, etc

Resources

http://www.twu.edu/inspire/aquatics.htm http://www.aahperd.org/aapar/ Adapted Aquatics Programming by

Lepore, Gayle & Stevens