Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan to hold Adaptive Water Safety Day in Partnership with Swim Angelfish and the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team

FRAMINGHAM - Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Swim Angelfish and the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team have announced that they will be hosting a free Adaptive Water Safety Day on August 14 at the Massachusetts State Police Headquarters pool in Framingham. 

According to a 2017 study in the American Journal of Public Health, children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than neurotypical children. Tragically, over the last few summers in Massachusetts, there have been several cases where children with autism have drowned in bodies of water near their homes. 

The event is designed for children with autism, anxiety, sensory needs, motor challenges and other special needs who may struggle with impulsivity and attraction to water or fear and avoidance of water. There will be an in-water safety skills workshop for children ages 4-18, where children and parents will be taught life-saving water skills by aquatic professionals. There will also be an out-of-water safety training in which children will be taught how to effectively use life jackets and flotation devices. Parents will leave the event with free resources provided by Swim Angelfish and tangible life-saving skills. 

Swim Angelfish is the global leader in adaptive swim instruction. The organization was founded over twenty years ago by Ailene Tisser and Cindy Freeman, who have both been working with children with disabilities for the majority of their professional careers. Their goal is to reduce the drowning statistics and provide swimmers with confidence and independence in the water by utilizing adaptive teaching approaches to make swimming accessible to people of all abilities. Cindy Freedman and two other adaptive swim instructors along with the Massachusetts State Police dive team will be leading the in-water safety skills workshop at the Adaptive Water Safety Day event. Learn more about Swim Angelfish here.

A parent or guardian must attend with the child. Registration for this event is required due to limited space. Please register by emailing [email protected]