Published: 1 July 2026
Children on the autism spectrum are up to 160 times more likely to drown than their peers and Hutt City Council has become an Autism Swim Approved Provider to do something about it.
Water safety is especially important in New Zealand where many families spend time around pools, rivers, beaches and lakes. Children need the opportunity to learn these life-saving skills in an environment where they feel safe, supported and understood.
Council has strengthened its support for autistic and neurodivergent children and their families by having its Swim School leadership team complete specialist Autism Swim Neurodiversity + Aquatics Certification earlier this year, helping make water safety more accessible for everyone.
For many families, finding swimming lessons that understand their child's needs can be difficult. The programme aims to remove those barriers while helping children build confidence in and around water.
Research shows autistic children can face unique challenges around water. Some are naturally drawn to water, some may wander away from safe environments and others can struggle to apply swimming skills learned in a pool to unfamiliar places such as rivers, beaches or lakes.
Swim City Manager Kay Lindsay says the Autism Swim certification provides practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent participants in aquatic environments, recognising that every child learns differently.
"We want every child and family to feel welcomed, understood and supported when they come through our doors. Learning to swim is a life-saving skill and no child should miss out because a programme isn't designed to meet their needs.
"Our staff now feel better equipped to understand children's needs and adapt lessons to help them succeed. That creates a more positive experience for everyone involved.
“The training has led to the use of visual aids, social stories and other tools that help children understand what to expect before and during lessons.”
Lindsay says families often arrive feeling anxious after previous experiences where their child has struggled in mainstream programmes.
"When families see their child enjoying lessons and feeling included, it makes a huge difference."
Autism Swim General Manager Antoinette Spear says councils have an important role to play in ensuring neurodivergent children can safely learn essential water skills.
"Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for children on the autism spectrum, which is why inclusive swim education is so important.
"Hutt City Council is showing real leadership by investing in training that helps staff better understand neurodivergent children and create environments where they can learn, build confidence and stay safer around water."
For Hutt City Council, inclusive swimming lessons are about more than learning a new skill. They are about ensuring every child has the chance to build confidence around water and learn skills that could one day save their life.
Council will continue building on the programme to ensure more children can gain the confidence and water safety skills they need to stay safe around pools, rivers and beaches.