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Swim Angelfish Adaptive swim, aquatic therapy, & training to improve independence in swimmers of all abilities!
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You might be seeing ADHD without realizing…A swimmer who struggles to follow lengthy instructions, acts before hearing t...
10/21/2026

You might be seeing ADHD without realizing…

A swimmer who struggles to follow lengthy instructions, acts before hearing the full direction or has difficulty maintaining focus may need a different teaching approach…not simply more reminders to pay attention.

ADHD affects attention regulation and impulse control, which can influence how some swimmers participate in lessons and aquatic therapy. But every swimmer is different, and no single behavior tells the whole story.

Here's why understanding ADHD matters:
Approximately 1 in 9 U.S. children ages 3–17 had a current ADHD diagnosis in 2024.

Globally, a 2023 umbrella review estimated ADHD prevalence at 8% among children and adolescents.

ADHD also affects adults. A 2023 U.S. survey estimated that 6% of adults had a current ADHD diagnosis, and more than half received their diagnosis in adulthood.

The takeaway for swim instructors and aquatic therapists? Look beyond the behavior. Shorter instructions, visual cues, predictable routines and purposeful activity changes may help some swimmers participate and learn more effectively.

And remember: these strategies should be individualized. ADHD doesn't look the same in every swimmer, and not every swimmer will need the same support.

At Swim Angelfish, we believe understanding the swimmer is an essential part of teaching the skill.
Want to learn how to adapt your approach for swimmers with different needs? Explore Swim Angelfish® online training at swimangelfish.com.
What strategies have helped you support a swimmer who struggles with attention or impulse control? Tell us in the comments.

Sources: CDC, 2024 National Survey of Children's Health; Journal of Affective Disorders, 2023 global umbrella review; CDC/NCHS, 2023 U.S. adult ADHD survey.

Looking for fun, inclusive ways to bring Halloween into the pool? We have something NEW for you!Our FREE, fall-inspired ...
10/20/2026

Looking for fun, inclusive ways to bring Halloween into the pool? We have something NEW for you!

Our FREE, fall-inspired Water Safety Activity Book pages are here! These downloadable activities help families and swim professionals continue learning beyond the pool while exploring water awareness, adaptive swimming skills, and new sensory experiences.

Designed with swimmers of all abilities in mind, these pages offer a fun way to introduce important concepts at each child's own pace.

Plus, our latest blog is full of inclusive Halloween swim lesson ideas, from Pumpkin Pass and Broomstick Balance to tips for supporting swimmers with autism, anxiety, and sensory challenges during seasonal activities.

Because Halloween fun should be inclusive, too!

Download your FREE activity pages and explore all the ideas here:
https://swimangelfish.com/inclusive-halloween-swim-lesson-ideas/

WE HAVE ARRIVED! We’re at USSSA National Conference this week!Our Swim Angelfish co-founders Ailene and are ready to co...
10/19/2026

WE HAVE ARRIVED! We’re at USSSA National Conference this week!

Our Swim Angelfish co-founders Ailene and are ready to connect, share ideas, and talk all things adaptive aquatics and inclusive swim instruction 🙌

Are you attending? Come find us at Booth #206! We’d love to meet you, hear what you’re working on, and chat about how we can help more swimmers of all abilities thrive in the water.

See you on the conference floor!

What if the problem ISN’T the water? (*gasp)....We talk about “Managing Successful Submerging” as one of the 14 roadbloc...
10/19/2026

What if the problem ISN’T the water? (*gasp)....

We talk about “Managing Successful Submerging” as one of the 14 roadblocks in the Swim Whisperers® methodology.

But this isn’t just about getting a swimmer’s face underwater.

It’s about understanding WHY going underwater might be tricky for that particular swimmer.
Maybe it’s sensory. Water on their face, the feeling of being submerged, or the change in sensory input might be overwhelming.

Maybe it’s how they process directions. “Put your face in the water” might seem like a simple instruction, but what if the swimmer needs that direction broken down, demonstrated, or presented in a different way? Maybe it’s breath control, body awareness, or uncertainty about what will happen when their face goes underwater.

Or maybe… they simply DON’T WANT TO. And that matters, too.

Not every swimmer is ready for the same skill at the same time. And a swimmer who resists submerging isn’t necessarily being difficult, refusing to learn, or trying to challenge their instructor.

Their response is information. Our job is to figure out what it’s telling us. So instead of asking, “Why won’t they put their face in the water?” Try asking: “What might be making this skill difficult for this swimmer?”

Because the answer changes everything.

A swimmer experiencing sensory overwhelm may need a different approach than a swimmer who doesn't understand the direction. And both may need something different from a swimmer who feels anxious or simply isn't ready to submerge.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Sometimes, the next step is breaking the skill into smaller parts. Sometimes, it's changing how we communicate. Sometimes, it's building familiarity and trust. And sometimes, it's respecting that the swimmer isn't ready and finding another way to move forward.
The goal isn't to force every swimmer underwater.

It's to understand the roadblocks affecting their progress and adapt our teaching to help them develop skills at their own pace. That’s the beauty of adaptive aquatics.

We aren't simply teaching a traditional swim skill and expecting every swimmer to learn it the same way. We're looking at the individual, identifying what may be getting in the way, AND finding strategies that help them succeed. That's why managing successful submerging is an important part of the Swim Whisperers® methodology. Recognizing a roadblock is the first step. Learning how to assess it, choose appropriate strategies, and adapt your teaching to the individual swimmer is where the deeper learning begins.

Ready to learn a different way?
Comment ✨I’M IN✨ below and join the movement toward more inclusive aquatics.

10/19/2026

The swimmer you keep telling to “sit out” might actually need THIS the most....

Yes we're talking about YOUR swimmer:
The impulsive one.
The silly one.
The one jumping in before they’re ready, diving to the bottom, or struggling to stop and listen.

Too often, these are the swimmers who get singled out for behaviors that can make teaching feel challenging. But what if we stopped asking, “Why won’t this swimmer listen?” and started asking, “What might help this swimmer learn?”

During ADHD Awareness Month, we’re highlighting a conversation with Swim America about Swim Whisperers® and why understanding the swimmer behind the behavior can make such a difference.

And while we’re talking about swimmers with ADHD, these strategies can also support swimmers with autism, sensory processing differences, anxiety, motor challenges, and other neurodivergent needs.

Because these swimmers are already in your pool. You may not even realize how differently they experience instructions, movement, transitions, or the sensory demands of the water.

The goal isn’t to excuse challenging behaviors or lower expectations. It’s to understand what’s driving them and adapt our approach so more swimmers have the opportunity to succeed.

That’s the thinking behind the Swim Whisperers® Methodology, and it’s why we’re so passionate about helping swim instructors and coaches see behavior through a different lens.

And if you’re wondering where to start, we now offer two new short courses: All Abilities Swim Tips for Instructors and All Abilities Swim Tips for Coaches.

These courses offer practical starting strategies and tips to help you better support neurodivergent swimmers in your lessons and practices. They don’t replace Swim Whisperers® training or certification, but they’re a great first step toward building your understanding and expanding your teaching toolbox.

This ADHD Awareness Month, let’s challenge ourselves to see beyond the behavior and recognize the swimmer who needs us to teach a little differently.

Because sometimes, the swimmer who challenges your approach the most is the one who needs that approach the most.

What’s one behavior you’ve seen in the pool that made you rethink how you teach?

To see our full interview with American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) dive in here: https://youtu.be/SXljR-8aRRg?si=NpTAzhAvCzPn7XyN

Interested in better teaching ALL abilities? Learn more about our 2-hour short courses by commenting ✨ ALL ABILITIES ✨ below and we'll DM you!

✨ PHEW ✨ WE’VE BEEN BUSY!!From Minnesota to Connecticut, Florida, California, and right back home again, the Swim Angelf...
10/18/2026

✨ PHEW ✨ WE’VE BEEN BUSY!!

From Minnesota to Connecticut, Florida, California, and right back home again, the Swim Angelfish team has been on the move...connecting with communities, supporting inclusive aquatic programs, and helping more professionals understand how to teach every swimmer.

Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to (and where we’re headed next!)...

🤍 Minneapolis, MN: Cindy traveled to V3 Sports for a private All Abilities Training workshop, working alongside their team to build skills for teaching swimmers of all abilities. The visit continued with a public adaptive water safety day, bringing the community together to learn and engage in the water.

🤍 Fairfield, CT: Ailene is heading to Fairfield Celebrates Down Syndrome to support an event celebrating individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community around them.

🤍 Discussions from the Deep End: Earlier this week, we recorded a podcast episode exploring what happens when traditional teaching approaches don’t work. We talked about sensory processing, motor learning in the water, communication that connects, and how instructors can become more adaptable to meet swimmers where they are.

🤍 Orlando, FL: We’re taking over Orlando as we get ready for the USSSA National Conference! Come find Swim Angelfish at Booth #206 to connect with Cindy and Ailene and talk adaptive aquatics.

🤍 West Hollywood, CA: Next up, we’re heading to the CAMS Conference to connect with professionals and continue the conversation around more inclusive, individualized approaches to aquatic care.

🤍 Back home: We’re wrapping up this busy stretch with a live AOAP webinar, “3 Neurodivergent Behaviors & What They’re Really Saying,” exploring what behaviors may communicate and how understanding them can help us respond more effectively.

Different places. Different conversations. One shared goal: helping more swimmers access meaningful, successful experiences in the water.

If you’re attending any of these events, we’d love to connect. Where will we see you?

US Swim School Association
Association of Aquatic Professionals

Understanding ADHD can change how we teach swimming.October is ADHD Awareness Month, and it’s a great opportunity to bet...
10/17/2026

Understanding ADHD can change how we teach swimming.

October is ADHD Awareness Month, and it’s a great opportunity to better understand how ADHD can affect a child’s experience in the pool.

With around 1 in 9 U.S. children ages 3–17 having a current ADHD diagnosis, chances are you already have swimmers with ADHD in your programs.

Differences in attention, activity levels, and impulse control can influence how a swimmer responds to instructions, transitions, and cues in the pool. Understanding these differences can help you adapt your approach to better support each swimmer’s learning, participation, and water safety.

We’ve gathered some of our most helpful resources to help you better understand ADHD and put practical strategies into action, including teaching tips, aquatic therapy insights, coaching strategies, and educational videos.

Want all the resources in one place?

Comment ✨ADHD✨ below, and we’ll send them directly to you!

Physical therapy doesn’t have to stop at the pool’s edge. Sometimes, the pool IS the treatment room.October is Physical ...
10/16/2026

Physical therapy doesn’t have to stop at the pool’s edge. Sometimes, the pool IS the treatment room.

October is Physical Therapy Month, and we’re celebrating the physical therapists who help individuals build strength, improve mobility, develop coordination, and work toward greater independence.

At Swim Angelfish, we believe the water can open up new possibilities for achieving those goals.

Through aquatic therapy, physical therapists can use the unique properties of water to support:

- Strength, balance, and postural control
- Range of motion and functional mobility
- Motor planning and coordination
- Sensory processing and body awareness
- Movement practice that supports functional goals on land

For pediatric clients with physical, sensory, neurological, or developmental challenges, the aquatic environment offers another way to approach therapy goals and meet each individual where they are.

This Physical Therapy Month, we’re celebrating the clinicians who keep learning, adapting, and finding new ways to help their clients thrive.

Curious about the science behind aquatic therapy? Explore our blog on how the properties of water can transform the way we approach movement and therapy.

https://swimangelfish.com/using-water-physics-to-improve-every-swim-lesson/

WE’RE ONLY 3 DAYS AWAY FROM 2026!October 19–21, 2026 Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Swim Angelfish Booth #206Cindy...
10/16/2026

WE’RE ONLY 3 DAYS AWAY FROM 2026!

October 19–21, 2026
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
Swim Angelfish Booth #206

Cindy & Ailene are getting ready to head to Orlando, and we’re counting down the days until we get to connect with the amazing aquatics community at the 2026 USSSA National Conference!

We’re coming to CONNECT.
LEARN.
SHARE IDEAS.
CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS.
MEET NEW ONES.
And TALK ALL THINGS ADAPTIVE AQUATICS!

Already part of the Swim Whisperers® community? We can’t wait to see you!

New to Swim Angelfish? Stop by and meet us!

Looking for practical strategies to better support swimmers with autism, sensory differences, anxiety, motor challenges, or other unique learning needs? We’d love to chat.

We’ll have training information, conference resources, and a few Swim Angelfish surprises waiting for you at Booth #206.

ORLANDO, HERE WE COME!

Who else will be at USSSA 2026? Drop a comment and let us know. We want to see you there!

10/13/2026

A kickboard can do more than support swimming skills. It can open the door to communication, choice, and connection.

In this semi-private lesson, swimmers are using our Visual Communication Cue Kickboard to talk about what they want to do next, communicate with their instructor, and engage with each other.

Those moments matter.

Visual supports can help swimmers express their preferences, participate more actively in their lessons, and create opportunities for social interaction with both instructors and peers.

Because adaptive swim instruction isn’t just about teaching skills. It’s about finding ways to help every swimmer communicate, connect, and learn.

Want to bring more visual communication into your lessons?

Shop the Swim Angelfish Visual Communication Cue Kickboard by commenting ✨ KICKBOARD ✨ below and we’ll send you the link!

Address

1177 High Ridge Road
Stamford, CT
06905

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+12035450024

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