Swim in for Autism

The ninth annual ‘Swim in for Autism’ let children and their parents have a splashing good time at the YMCA in Ocean Springs.

The Mississippi Center for Autism puts on this free event every year for children they care for at the center and anyone else on the spectrum as well.

Social interaction is important for children with autism and this swim in give kids that chance to make new friends who are just like them. It also allows parents to take a break while volunteers and staff watch over the kids.

Swimming has been proven to be a good sensory activity for autistic children so it was a perfect event for these kids to dive into. Mississippi Center for Autism Director Wayne Williams said, “A lot children with autism have sensory types of issues where they’re far more sensitive to their environment than we are and so getting into the water and swimming around alleviates a lot of those types of issues and the children really enjoy it. We’re really pleased that it’s been able to progress over the years and that we’re able to have it every year.”

The Mississippi Center for Autism is starting to stretch their outreach into the schools across South Mississippi. That’s how some of the 70 plus children in Sunday’s attendance found out about this event.