According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, out of every 4 million children born in the U.S., 36,500 will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. And as the CDC notes, ASD diagnoses are on the rise. As more children are diagnosed with autism, it’s important that their parents and caregivers have the knowledge needed to protect these young people from danger.
One area that is particularly dangerous for children with autism is water. Drowning is a leading cause of death for kids with ASD. The reasons drowning is such a threat for this population are related to the condition itself:
- As this New York Times article explains, children with ASD have a tendency to wander off.
- And when they do wander, notes the Albuquerque Journal, they’re often drawn to water.
- Though children with autism can absolutely learn to swim, factors associated with the condition, such as sensory processing disorders and poor motor skills, can make doing so difficult without specialized swim lessons.
Water safety lessons are important for all children. But because the odds seem especially stacked against kids with autism, they become even more necessary. In this resource guide, parents and caregivers of children with autism will find water safety tips, lessons, advice, and more especially suited for teaching their children how to stay safe around the water.
After an extensive career broadcast marketing, Jennifer and her husband searched for answers when their oldest son hit the kinder years with great difficultly. After finally learning that their oldest son had Aspergers Syndrome, she left her career in television and became a full time mother to both of her sons. Jennifer elicited the participation of her sons and together they produced several independent programs including a children’s animated series titled Ameriquest Kids (now distributed by Landmark Media) as well as her documentary and book titled, Coping to Excelling: Solutions for school-age children diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism or Aspergers Syndrome.
The need for more information encouraged Jennifer to elicit a team of autism experts to provide weekly, original content to a website free to anyone seeking to live their best under the diagnosis of High-Functioning Autism/Aspergers Syndrome… appropriately titled: Aspergers101.com.