Research: Early Intervention Aquatics: A Program for Children with Autism and their Families

Authored by Prupas, A., Harvey WJ, and Benjamin J. in Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Volume 77, Issue 2, p. 46-51, (2006).

Article summary (posted Jan 5, 2007):

The article describes important aspects of a successful preschool-age swimming program for children with autism.

The authors developed an early-intervention aquatics program known as the Aquatic Nursery Program targeted at preschool-age children with autism and their families. They have been using this program for 10 years and have found that it improved children'??s movement skills and strengthened family bonds. The authors believe this is because many children with autism can move more easily in water than in a gymnasium. Swimming also strengthened the bond between the parents and child because they had fun together during the program. The authors note that swimming also has the advantage of providing sensory input.

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You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
aquatic, autism, early intervention (EI), education, family, intervention, movement, movement therapy, parent, preschool, recreation, sensory input, sensory integration, swim therapy, water
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