Special Needs Swimming

Special Needs Swimming

Adaptive Aquatics

Halliwick Concept: Water-Based Supportive Therapy
Infant-Adult
Group classes and 1:1 sessions

The Halliwick Concept is a water-based, supportive technique assisting participants as they work towards increasing their strength, motor, and language skills. Swimmers will learn to gain independence in the water and meet functional living goals on land. All swimmers will be given a formal intake and placed in a group or with a trained practitioner for 1:1 sessions.

Penguins (2–14 years)
The Penguins Adaptive Aquatics program is catered to children who need extra support, with a small staff to student ratio and dedicated instructors. This progressive program features multiple classes at Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced level swimming. All swimmers will have a formal intake and pool assessment before being placed in a level and group that will best suit their goals and offer the support to ensure their success in the water. 

Penguins Group Learn-to-Swim Classes (Mixed Ages)
This adaptive and progressive program features small class sizes and dedicated instructors. Water safety skills and fitness goals are implemented at each level to help your child acquire good swimming habits and a lifelong love of the water. Using water-based motor skills and proper breath control, children will work toward independence in the water with an emphasis placed on combined proper stroke work and endurance. Children will be given a formal intake and placed in groups that best suit their individual goals.

For more information please email Caitlin Boker.

Scholarships for our adaptive swim programs are supported with a generous grant by Autism Speaks.

Help us continue to ensure accessible programming for everyone. Please support Special Needs programming at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan.