Sensory Integration Education

SWiRL Global, co-founded by designer Rachael and swim teacher Steph, both parents to neurodiverse children, here offers practical advice on making swimming more sensory friendly and accessible: 

Water can be a great sensory soothing tool. The hydrostatic pressure of deeper water, like in a swimming pool, can provide a feeling of compression over the whole body which can be incredible calming. But navigating swim lessons or even getting changed and into the pool area can be a sensory nightmare of temperature changes, tactile challenges, bright lights and harsh sounds.

Knowing how much the water can benefit a person once they’re in, we thought we would share tips on navigating the sensory challenges that may be barriers to getting into the pool.

Parking and Pool Times

if you can find out in advance it can be useful to know how busy the car park usually is, whether you need to pay at a machine and, of course, how many accessible spaces there are if you need one. Driving round a busy car park getting increasingly irate as you try to find a space can elevate stress levels and increase the likelihood of being overwhelmed when met with any sensory challenges. Thank you Google Maps for the Popular Times widget! When searching for your local facility, this is a great tool for finding quieter times (an indicator for both the pool and car park). Some pools and leisure centres do offer quieter or sensory-friendly times, if your pool doesn’t ask them if they can start a regular session.

Changing Rooms

We’re not sure if anyone really enjoys the changing room experience. They’re often loud, bright and can feel very cold; this coupled with a wet but gritty floor underfoot and sometimes unpleasant smells can be sensory hell. A positive of COVID is that it is now accepted and encouraged to arrive swim ready, so you can almost avoid the changing room entirely. We like to wear either a comfy robe or warm onesie to and from the pool to minimise time in the changing rooms. Where this isn’t possible, ask to use a family, accessible or less communal changing space. 

If you don’t like the feel of the floor on your bare feet, you can usually bring flipflops for use in the changing rooms and around the pool - all that matters is not wearing outdoor footwear in these areas. Some people like to wear wetsuit boots or water shoes, again this is fine as long as they haven’t been worn outside and can be a really good tool for providing extra proprioceptive feedback when kicking in the pool.

Swimwear

Often pool rules state that all swimmers must be in clothing designated as swimwear but you can wear alternative clothing as a reasonable adjustment for disability. If you are sensitive to cold or just enjoy the squeeze of compression-wear then neoprene is a great choice for the pool. Splashabout do a great children’s range of fleece-lined neoprene suits for those up to age 6, for bigger sizes we recommend a lightweight wetsuit or neoprene separates. Swirl co-founder Steph is a big fan of the short sleeved neoprene tops from Decathlon and has had hers for almost 5 years now. If you’re not fond of lycra or neoprene then a cotton t-shirt and shorts may suffice, as long as what you wear isn’t too heavy when wet and doesn’t turn see-through, there should be no problems in wearing it. If you are someone that needs to feel weight for added proprioceptive feedback (even when in the water) then adding a t-shirt over your swimwear can fulfil that need.

Swim Aids

Some things can just feel yuk to touch! This is why, at SWiRL Global, we developed covers for both floats (kickboards) and pool noodles. Both are popular and versatile swim aids for all ages when learning to swim, but many people don’t like how they feel in the water. If holding anything is a problem, then looking for something wearable is a much better option -  although options become more limited for those over the age of 7. Different swim aids can differently affect balance and body position in the water with some being more helpful than others depending on balance and proprioceptive needs. If you’re unsure you can ask your occupational therapist, swim teacher or get in touch with us to see what might work best.

Accessories

Goggles can be a love/hate thing, but if you don’t like water in your face and eyes or get anxious about that happening you may wish to invest in some. We love Frogglez as their neoprene headband doesn’t pull or tug at hair. If you don’t like water on your nose or worry about water going into your nose you can get goggles or a swim mask that cover the nose too; nose clips are effective but can sometimes feel like they’re pinching. Look for products that will meet your sensory preferences.

If there isn’t a quiet time at your pool or the environment is just too loud, you can wear a swim hat (silicone or fabric are perfect if conventional hats tug too much on your hair), a neoprene headband/earcover or earplugs. Don’t feel like you have to choose just one, you can combine these if needed.

Fins/flippers – these aren’t always allowed during public swim sessions but can be used in lessons and lane swims. If you’re having trouble achieving an efficient kick or need extra proprioceptive feedback these are fantastic to wear and use can be faded over time.

Getting Out

Getting out can cause overwhelm as you climb out of the water and are hit with the sudden temperature change and suddenly lose the calming pressure of the water around your body. For some, a gradual exit is useful, but most people will benefit from having a robe or towel immediately to hand to mitigate the temperature change. If you don’t like walking bare foot on the flooring, ensure those flipflops are to hand too. Sometimes the transition from wet to dry can be tricky, if this is the case for you or your child you may want to warm up in the showers then just wrap up warm in a robe until ready to change. For some it may be easier to travel home this way first before attempting to change into dry clothes: if you can stay warm, it isn’t a problem.

The Pool for Therapy

The pool is an excellent place to move around freely and explore different types of proprioceptive and vestibular inputs. There are lots of opportunities for resistance and heavy work such as wading, scooping or pushing the water. Blowing bubbles can be a great sensory activity that is also good for breath work which can complement speech and language development work, interception activities and self-regulation techniques. Since being in the water can meet so many sensory needs it can be the perfect place for successful occupational therapy, physical therapy or speech and language session as the person you are working with will be super regulated.

SWiRL Global is a community of swimmers, advocates, parents, teachers, athletes, and much more that focuses on bringing inclusion & community to the world of Aquatics. Steph+ Rachael specialises in bringing education, support and resources like sensory swim-aids, equipment & hygiene barriers for all swimmers. If you enjoyed this article on making swimming more sensory friendly, find out more at www.swirlglobal.com.