About our Adaptive Swim Sessions
Adaptive Swim Sessions are 40-minute, one-on-one swim lessons guided by a plan from a Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA). Your swimmer learns with a Certified Splash Instructor, and the RBA supports that instructor behind the scenes.
Since 2019, we've taught close to 200 autistic swimmers. Many of their families wanted swim sessions that worked hand in hand with the clinical support their child already had. Adaptive sessions are our answer: the same patient, skill-based teaching as every Splash lesson, with a clinician's insight built into the plan. Building that partnership took four years, and it made Splash the first OAP-eligible swim provider in Peel and Halton.
Because every session is overseen by an RBA, Adaptive Swim Sessions meet the Ontario Autism Program's criteria and may be eligible for OAP funding. Families pay Splash directly, then submit their receipts to the OAP for reimbursement. Every OAP plan is different, so we encourage families to check with their care coordinator that the sessions fit their swimmer's plan.
Who adaptive sessions are for
Adaptive sessions are for swimmers of any age who benefit from a clinician-informed plan. That includes autistic swimmers, swimmers with ADHD or sensory processing differences, and swimmers with developmental differences or other medical complexities.
You don't need OAP funding to book. Any family can book an adaptive session and pay directly, and some families use ABA coverage through their private insurance.
How the RBA supports your swimmer
- 1Intake. The RBA meets with your family to learn your goals for your swimmer and builds a plan around them.
- 2Instructor notes. The RBA's notes go to your swimmer's instructor before lessons begin.
- 3Check-ins. The RBA visits once or twice during the session to see how things are going and update the notes.
- 4Ongoing support. Instructors can reach the RBA with questions at any time.
What a session looks like
Every adaptive session is built around one swimmer. Your instructor plans each lesson from the goals in the RBA's plan and from what we learn about your swimmer: their sensory profile, how they communicate, and the supports that already work for them.
In the water, that can look like:
- Goals from the RBA's plan, such as turn-taking, practised through play.
- Water safety, like holding onto the side of the pool and moving along the wall to get from one spot to another.
- Exploring the pool, with room to be curious, find where the water gets too deep, and get to know the space at their own pace.
- Learning beyond swimming, like counting and number recognition with numbered sinking mats.
Swimming skills come from our skill-based curriculum, with each next step chosen for your swimmer rather than set by a level. On deck, instructors use tools like visual schedules and timers, and a parent can join in the water when that helps.
Where we offer adaptive sessions
Adaptive sessions run at We Rock the Spectrum in Brampton, a sensory gym built for neurodivergent children and youth, and at Burlington Hall Sporting Club in Burlington.
Getting started
You can book adaptive sessions on our site at splashaquatics.ca/book, or contact us at info@splashaquatics.ca, or (289) 270-0788. We look forward to getting your swimmer in the pool!