Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:AP

A new swimming program in Hong Kong is giving children with special education needs (SEN) a chance to learn how to swim safely and confidently. The goal is to teach 1,500 children over three years.

The program, called Move Without Borders – Swim with Splash, helps children with mild to moderate SEN, such as autism or ADHD. Experts say kids with autism are much more at risk of drowning, so learning to swim is not just fun—it can save lives.

Many parents have found it hard to find swim classes for their SEN children. Some say regular classes don’t understand their kids and ask them to leave. But this program is different. The swim coaches are trained to work with SEN children and understand their needs.

One mom, Ms. Kwok, has three kids with SEN. Her son is nine and has autism, and her twin girls, aged eight, have autism and ADHD. All three joined the swim course and recently finished it. At first, her son was scared and cried, but now he loves the water. After 16 lessons, her daughters can swim, and her son is also doing well.

She says her kids are now more confident and even tell their classmates, “I know how to swim!” She also noticed that they are learning to follow instructions better and making new friends in the classes.

The swim lessons include basic water skills like floating, getting into deep water, and swimming simple strokes. Classes last between 20 to 30 hours, depending on each child’s needs.

The program shows how swimming can help kids not just physically, but also emotionally and socially. It improves their body movements, helps them stay calm, and boosts their self-esteem.