Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children with autism. But what if the biggest barrier to preventing it... is misunderstanding?

In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety, host Michele Gay sits down with Cindy Freedman, co-founder of Swim Angelfish and a longtime pediatric therapist, to confront the realities — and the myths — of water safety for neurodivergent children. Together, they share hard truths, personal stories, and practical tools that every family, therapist, and school leader should know.

From Michele’s own experience navigating water safety with her daughter Josephine, to Cindy’s decades of training professionals across the country, this conversation shines a light on how we can turn the water from a place of fear into one of empowerment, safety, and inclusion.

In this conversation:

• Why children with autism are at much higher risk of drowning — and how we fix that

• The most dangerous myths about water safety and neurodivergent kids

• What makes aquatic therapy so powerful for teaching body awareness and regulation

• How Swim Angelfish helps professionals nationwide create safer water experiences

• Why real safety means meeting kids where they are — not where we wish they were

👉 Listen now and learn how to turn awareness into action — in your family, your school, and your community.

PLUS download some AMAZING free tools on water safety at: https://swimangelfish.com/

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