Swimin12 Sets New Parenthood Record for Malaysia’s Largest Inclusive Swimming Lesson
47 Neurodivergent Students from SK Kampung Muhibah, Perak, Master Water Confidence and Life Skills with SwimIn12’s Unique Coaching Style
Swimin12, a pioneer in inclusive aquatic education, has officially been recognised by Parenthood Records for conducting the “Largest Swimming Lesson Conducted Simultaneously for Neurodiverse Children.” The record-giving ceremony took place at Kolam Renang Universiti Malaya, celebrating a breakthrough in sports accessibility for children with special needs.
The record was established during a specialised session for 47 students from SK Kampung Muhibah, Perak, ranging from kindergarten to primary six. These students, who live with conditions such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, and down syndrome, participated in a structured program designed to foster water confidence and life skills. The event was made possible through a vital partnership with SJKC Shing Chung, which provided the swimming pool venue for the record-setting lesson.
A Specialised Approach to Learning
SwimIn12 has long been at the forefront of inclusive aquatic education, offering programmes that help learners of different abilities and ages build confidence in the water. This milestone was made possible by the academy’s unique approach to coaching. Swimin12 coaches receive specialised training in psychology and adaptive instruction methods to specifically support swimmers with autism, ADHD, and other diverse learning profiles.
Darshini Balakrishnan, CEO of SwimIn12 and Director of the Inclusive Education Program, highlighted that the event was meticulously organised into two segments: activities in the swimming pool and exercises on land. To ensure safety and personalised attention:
- Students were divided into small groups of approximately five to six individuals.
- A dedicated team of coaches, teachers, and parents closely supervised each group.
- Coaches utilised social situation cue cards around the pool, featuring illustrations like “Don’t jump” and “Go to the toilet”, to help students understand instructions and express their needs.
The Power of Hydrotherapy
Beyond teaching basic strokes, the Specialised Aquatic Lesson functions as a form of hydrotherapy or “spa treatment” designed to help students better adapt to campus life. Darshini highlighted that the water environment is highly beneficial for emotional management, as students must learn to overcome fear and control impulses to jump into the water, which in turn improves self-control and listening ability.
Additional benefits observed during the lesson included:
- Joint Mobility: Entering the water assists students in moving their joints more freely.
- High Engagement: Approximately 70% of autistic children feel comfortable in the water, where they realise they must listen to instructions to perform specific actions, leading to a significant improvement in their listening skills.
- Communication Milestones: The training is effective for students who previously could not speak, with many showing immense progress in their ability to respond to instructions and express themselves.
“This record is not just about numbers; it is about the progress of the children,” said Darshini. “Some students could not even speak when they first started, but they have shown immense improvement through this ‘pre-school’ style training”.