Because the curriculum at Atlantis Swim School is based on individual's needs and goals in addition to fundamental swimming knowledge, it is easy for our instructors to adapt the lesson for anyone. One of our goals is to touch and  change people's lives. Knowing that the special needs population is traditionally underserved in this area and the water can be so therapeutic and life-changing, we have chosen to specialize in serving the special needs population.
On our philosophy and mission statement page you can read about the overall philosophy that permeates throughout everything we do. We really believe that each learner is unique & capable and deserves the highest quality instruction possible.
We are always interested in the possibility of partnering with others in the community and being a resource. If you know of a medical professional, therapist, support group, or organization who may be interested in receiving our information, having a speaker, or otherwise developing a relationship with us, please contact us.
Specific Techniques We Use
Halliwick ~ All Atlantis swim instructors have received some training in a technique called Halliwick. Halliwick was originally developed to teach children who have cerebral palsy how to swim. Since its inception it has become a popular water therapy used by therapists to help patients with all kinds of diagnoses. At its foundation is the study of fluid mechanics and how the human body responds to and inhabits th e water. As swim instructors the Halliwick technique actually informs all of the teaching we do, regardless of the swimmer's abilities. Since its principles are so fundamental our applications for Halliwick are numerous. Just to give you an idea of how we might use this technique to help someone who has a physical disability, we have included a short list of how we use Halliwick.
- to acclimate the swimmer to the water so that the swimmer feels in control and thereby very comfortable
- to find a swimmer's center of buoyancy
- to refine breath control
- to strengthen the body so that movement in multiple directions is possible and easily controlled
- to problem solve and create new solutions in the water that are tailor-fit for a particular student
To read more about this technique visit our links and resources page. Under the aquatic therapy section are several links that relate to Halliwick.
Developmental Movement ~ Though we do not employ a specific developmental movement technique, our knowledge of what developmental movements are and how they build upon one another informs our teaching. Being in the water is actually the perfect medium for experiencing and experimenting with these movement patterns. Just like with Halliwick, this subject area is so basic to all of our movements that it has wide applications within all of our teaching. Just to give you an idea of how we might use knowledge of developmental movement when teaching a swimmer who has special needs, we've made a short list outlined below.
- to find the simplest way to do something
- to be able to recognize when a developmental milestone may be delayed or missing (We do not diagnose such delays. We simply have a general awareness.)
- to help in deciding which movement is the appropriate next step for a particular swimmer
- to develop movement sequences and games that are appropriate for a specific swimmer
Watsu ~ The focus of this technique is relaxation. Some of our instructors may use some Watsu movements, particularly with swimmers who have high muscle tone or sensory integration issues. Watsu as a technique was not designed to help people learn to swim, but we find that some of the movements Watsu has to offer can help a swimmer relax in the water, which of course will thereby make swimming easier. In the future Atlantis plans to begin offering Watsu sessions, which will solely be focused on relaxation.
To read more about this technique visit our links and resources page. Under the aquatic therapy section are several links that related to Watsu.
Who Teaches
Our lead instructors teach many of the students who have special needs, though all of our instructors receive some training to teach special populations. Each instructor who has a student with special needs receives ongoing professional development, guidance, and support from the lead instructor team and owner of the company. This ensures that any Atlantis instructor you have will be well prepared and well equipped for teaching all of our swimmers.
Each of our instructors comes to us with their own unique background. Several have degrees in the area of movement or sport, such as kinesiology. Some have backgrounds in therapy, such as occupational or physical therapy, and some have a degree specifically in education. To read about specific instructor backgrounds, check out our instructor bio page.
Who We Teach
 We teach any student who is medically able to be in the water. If you are not sure if you or your child fits into this category, please consult your physician. If you have specific requirements or limitations that relate to the pool environment, please contact us. We can discuss in detail with you the pools where we teach including their water temperatures & accessibility.
We are consistently seeking out new challenges & opportunities for learning, which includes continuing professional development in the area of serving students who have special needs. Our expertise is not limited by the list below, but we thought it may be helpful for you to see the sorts of students we have worked with in the past.
Our instructors have worked with students with the following:
ADD & ADHD
Angel's Syndrome
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Down's Syndrome
Scoliosis
Sensory Integration Disorder
blindness & low vision
cognitive delays & disabilities
deafness & hearing impairment
developmental delays & disabilities
dyspraxia
hypertonia
hypotonia
orthopedic concerns
paralyzation
paralyzing fear resulting from past traumas
speech delays | 
