the elation of those participating in
our programs. The joy is palpable.
You see the participants transform,
surpass expectations, relax,
have fun and bring a whole new
meaning to the word ‘possibilities’.
We have so many tears from
parents who didn’t know their child
had such capabilities. It’s truly an
inspirational thing to be a part of,
and not for one day do I take that
for granted.”
Big Future Ahead
It’s been a hard and significant
work over the first two years, and
it hasn’t happened in isolation.
“We like to reflect and celebrate
where we’re at before we look at
where we can go,” Ms Gleeson
says. “We have received a mighty
amount of support since day one
which we’ll be forever grateful
for. Fundamentally, we want
Autism Swim to be the catalyst
for changing the statistics. In
years to come, I want to look at a
statistical line graph and see the
trend-line for drowning deaths in
ASD decelerating significantly, all
from the time that Autism Swim
came to be. We want families to
feel assured by what we’re doing,
instructors feeling confident
in what they’re delivering and
individuals with ASD being
equipped with knowledge and
skills so that they can engage
in water activities safely and,
ultimately, happily.”
About the Author
Benjamin Cooper is a journalist who has worked for Reuters
and Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service. He lives in
Sydney and collects far too much obscure music.
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Change Magazine January 2018
www.changemag-diinsider.com Change Magazine January 2018
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