CHANDLER, Ariz. — The CDC suggests as many as one in six children may have a sensory need. And one in 36 children in the U.S. have autism. Now, an East Valley city is using its new training for those children to protect them around public pools, as temperatures rage this summer.
The City of Chandler’s entire parks and recreation department is an official Certified Autism Center. More than 500 staff received the training which took about 60 days to complete.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Piscinas y parques de Chandler son más inclusivos para personas con autismo
The city said the training better-equipped staff to communicate with people with autism. There was also program development, autism awareness, communication protocols and safety.
Following the certification, the community will see some changes at Chandler facilities including parks and pools. There will be sensory guides that show how a person with sensory-processing sensitivities may experience the facility.
Valley teacher, Lindsey Lindsey, weighed in on how important changes like these are for Arizona communities.
“I think it's great the community is so aware of what the public needs and that these accommodations are being available for children who are autistic or adults who are," Lindsey said. "It makes them feel like they have a comfortable or safe spot to be where they know they have the things they can thrive on when they’re at the swimming pools.”
There are also sensory bins to help people who may be overwhelmed, calm down. And Becky Kuiper, Chandler’s Parks and Recreation superintendent, said being certified increases water safety, especially in the autism community where there is a higher drowning rate.
“The aquatics training helps our lifeguards be more aware, especially children who have sensory sensitivities or may have autism," Kuiper said. "They communicate a little bit differently. So it helps our lifeguards know how to enforce the rules differently with someone who may be nonverbal or respond in a different way.”
Chandler’s autism certification is new, so signage is still being rolled out at some city facilities. There will also be adaptive swim lessons at the Arrowhead pool this summer. And there is a sensory swim time at the Nozomi Aquatic Center in July.
Chandler joins other Valley cities including Gilbert with a parks and recreation autism certification and Mesa which said it became the first autism certified city in the country.
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