Feedback from Grandparents...

Hi Kathy, I'm Aidan & Nora’s grandma...have met you several times at the pool, and I'm so impressed with the swimming skills you've taught them. I want to sponsor lessons for new baby Owen (born on 6-14-05)...he should be ready for lessons early 2006.  Thanks, Eileen Harren

Dear Kathy, I love to watch you teach my grandchildren.   When I have come to watch, I see you with student after student - you continue to show extreme patience and love to even some of the most difficult children.  I am impressed how you relate to children and am personally relieved that my grandchildren know water survival and love to swim!  As you say to the kids, "Way to go, Way to go, Way to go!"  Mrs. Dorothy Elsmer

Feedback from

Parents...

We have two little swimmers! Our twins not only feel comfortable in the water but they really know how to swim and float! As scuba divers, we want to share our love for the water with our children. This program really works, start early!!

Not only can my daughter swim & float, but she has real life-saving skills! My little girl knows what to do when she's in water!! It’s reassuring to see my child fall off a float, get on her back to breathe, and swim to my hand!  She's only one year old!  Tanya

Swim Otters is a fun and exciting environment.  Singing songs, integrating skills - that’s what it’s all about!  Our children love to swim and play!  We really do get to the pool every week to practice - it's so convenient! Stacey

Quinlan loves the water!  We can’t get him out of the water when we go to the pool.  He is a little fish!  He diving in to Eric and I, loves to swim float swim, and best of all play submarine on dad’s back.  Thank you for all the skills you’ve taught him.  They are invaluable!  Thanks, Jen Goslau 

Isabel at 2 yrs old, did not want to be around the water, let alone be in swim lessons. She would rather me hold her. The weeks passed and Isabel was still crying. Kathy was patient and loving...and at one point everything seemed to just click! Now she loves the water and when we see Miss Kathy, Isabel can’t wait for her turn to get in! Now she cries when it’s time to get out! Kathy is all about making kids feel comfortable around water—she develops a strong trust with a child.  Autumn L.

Testimonial of a Real Aquatic Incident
Through your instruction of Infant Aquatic Survival techniques my son learned a precious skill, the ability to save himself from drowning. At the age of 26 months my son learned to swim-float-swim under the watchful eye of mom and teachers. Recently this valuable skill was put to the ultimate test when no one was watching.  My 2 year-old son, 5 month old daughter, and I went to a nearby water park to swim with friends. My son was playing with his older friend. I was with them as they left the wading pool and started towards the family spa/ hot tub. I told my son to wait while I briefly turned my head to pick my daughter up. It was only a few seconds from the time I lost sight of my son until I heard a gurgling scream come from the hot tub. I knew it was Aidan, and I knew from the nature of his cry that he was on his back in a float. We found Aidan face up in a star position, one leg kicking against the current in the middle of the family hot tub. Water was splashing over his face adding the gurgle sound to his cry. The tub was 3-4 feet deep, too deep for Aidan to stand. The sight of him in this float terrified and relieved me at the same time. I was terrified because I knew this position meant he had been totally submerged in the water. I was relieved because he turned to a floating position as he was taught to do in survival lessons. While in this position he was able to breathe and scream for help. I knew from his lessons with you that he could maintain the float for an extended period of time. I quickly but calmly removed my shaken, healthy son from the water. Within five minutes he was asking to play in thewading pool again.

Testimonial from a parent of children who have Autisim & Aspergers

Ok, I never stick my head out there and recommend any particular therapist or instructor because I realize how unique and different our Autistic kiddos are. I completely understand that what works for my mostly non verbal, 6 year old autistic son may not work for someone else's son or daughter.

Having said that, let me tell you about this GREAT swimming instructor we have found. Her name is Kathy and her web site is www.swimotters.com. The phone is 303-554-7946.

At first it was hard for me to buy into her philosophy. The lessons are only 10 minutes long, Monday through Thursday for 6 weeks. I was so afraid my son would melt down if I took him out of that pool after only 10 minutes, but Kathy has a unique way with children. It's hard to explain. She's completely in control. Firm, but loving. The children are totally taken with her. And, my son was able to focus for a short period of time. 10 minutes was the right amount of time for him to practice his skills and concentrate on what he needed to do each day.

In addition to my autistic 6 year old son, I also have a 4 year old son who has not yet been diagnosed as Asperger's - but I know that he is. I put him in the swim program as well. This was a child that did not like water, did not like water on his face, and was not interested in anything related to water. He cried the first week, he complained and whined the second week, but the third week he was smiling when we came to swim class and he started holding his breath under water. Today, we were at the Rec Center and my 4 year old son is swimming independently with his eyes under water, holding his breath under water under water, floating all by himself, etc – the whole 9 yards. He can even jump in a get on his back and float!  My autistic 6 year old son has a tough time staying still for floating, but he can now float independently as long as he counts on his back and kicks his legs at the same time.  He can hold his breath under water and he can swim with his head down into the water toward the stairs (my guess would be about 5-6 feet in length)!

I cannot tell you how proud I am of these boys and how fortunate I feel to have found Kathy. I have spent money on recreation center swim lessons and private swim lessons in the past and nothing has worked. In only 6 weeks I've got both boys out of their floatie arm bands and I finally feel comfortable in the water. I still never take my eyes off of them and probably won't, but now I finally feel like there is hope for water parks in our future.

I do not believe Kathy has specific training in autism but if your child understands simple, direct words I would definitely recommend contacting Kathy. She has worked with special needs children in the past and it shows. Her program is a little expensive, but compared to ABA, OT, Speech and the thousands of dollars we have spent in therapy over the past 3 years, this was money well worth spent. In fact, I decided to sign up both boys for another 6 weeks just to make sure we
are advanced and ready for the summer and year ‘round swimming. Good luck and best regards. I hope this program works out as well for you as it did for my family.
G's Mom

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