1. Adapted Aquatics

2. Why the Water? What are some possible benefits of including aquatics for student with disabilities? –Focus your responses more for a pull-out setting.

3. 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

4. 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?

5. Equipment Available

7. PFD’s Assistive device when used supplementally Flotation devices sometimes gets in the way of strokes Sometimes used as ‘babysitters’.

8. Planning – What to Teach? Learn to Swim –Special Olympics Levels of Competency –Sherrill Model

9. 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

10. 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?

11. Getting into the Water - Independent Transfers Forward Pivot Sliding Board Transfer

12. Standard Lift Arms-through lift Getting into the Water - Dependent Transfers

13. Getting into the Water Ramps and stairs (ADA compliant)

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Teaching Strategies/ Ideas Hand over hand – guide through the movements Visual display of activities or tasks to complete Surfing

18. Teaching Strategies/ Ideas

19. Assisted Ambulation Flotation with hand over hand (again)

20. Teaching Strategies/Ideas Vital capacity (lung) Diving lead-up

21. Sample Activities - see linked filesee linked file

22. Resistance Exercises Moving arm through the water –Add resistance through a webbed glove, holding a lolli-pop paddle, etc

23. Resources http://www.twu.edu/inspire/aquatics.htm http://www.aahperd.org/aapar/ Adapted Aquatics Programming by Lepore, Gayle & Stevens