Evaluating a swim program for autistic children to improve their swimming and water safety skills
Official title: Testing Effects of Swim Instruction on Autistic Children's Swimming and Water Safety Skills
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11000350 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well a special swim program called Sensory Enhanced Aquatics (SEA) helps autistic kids aged 5-9 learn to swim and stay safe in the water, comparing it to regular swim lessons over eight weeks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | December 13, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $171,798 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD111917-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11000350 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are autistic children aged 5 to 9 years who may benefit from enhanced swim instruction.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside the age range of 5 to 9 years or those without autism may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a specialized swim instruction program called Sensory Enhanced Aquatics (SEA) designed for autistic children. The program aims to address the unique challenges faced by these children in learning to swim and ensuring their safety around water. Through a randomized controlled trial, 50 children aged 5-9 will participate in either the SEA program or standard swim lessons over eight weeks, with their swimming and water safety skills assessed before and after the intervention. The study also seeks to identify which characteristics of the children may influence their success in learning these skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of drowning among autistic children by improving their swimming and water safety skills.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically on swim instruction for autistic children, preliminary evaluations of the SEA program have shown promising results in improving swim skills.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mische Lawson, Lisa — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mische Lawson, Lisa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.