The recent death of a 9-year-old girl with autism is highlighting a serious safety concern for children with autism.
Experts say children with autism are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than the general pediatric population. The issue has hit especially close to home in the Tri-State, where four children with autism have drowned in Greater Cincinnati in the past year.
Now, one local swimming instructor is working to break down barriers so more families can access specialized swimming lessons designed to keep children safe around water.
Eric Moore, owner of Swim Life of NKY, says incidents like this weekend are exactly why his work matters.
“This incident this weekend is 100% what we’re here trying to prevent every day. So, when it happens for us, it’s even a little bit more emotional,” Moore said.
The case of a young girl with autism found in a pond over the weekend is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly water can become dangerous.
Experts say children with autism often view water differently, which can increase their risk.
“If they’ve never really been exposed to true training and the parent hasn’t really taught them… that autistic child looks at the water as a mystical mystery, almost fun, like a unicorn land,” Moore said. “Little do they know how dangerous it is.
After 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef Jr. drowned in a pond behind his West Chester home in 2024, Moore’s organization created a scholarship in the boy’s name. The program provides free five-week swim courses for children with autism.
Moore says teaching survival skills in water can be lifesaving.
“We believe this is the number one prevention, them learning how to survive in water, because barriers are only so good,” he said.
The specialized course normally costs around $600, in part because instructors must complete certifications that cost more than $16,000.
“There’s a reason we’re a little bit more expensive, but that’s because we’re getting results,” Moore said. “It’s not one day a week. It’s not a group lesson. We want it to be fun for them, but more importantly we want results for the parents.”
Since the most recent tragedy, Moore says dozens of parents have reached out seeking lessons.
However, there are already more than 300 children on the waitlist. Moore hopes lawmakers will begin treating water safety as a priority.
“The kids need to learn what water is and what happens if they fall in it,” Moore said. “If we do that over and over, imagine the chance they may now have compared to doing nothing.”