Splash Aquatics Inc.

Every swimmer has their own way of finding the water. 🌊

Sabak and Shaan are twin brothers who joined the Splash family back in 2023 and watching them grow over the past few years has been one of our greatest joys.

Sabak arrived at his first lesson with a huge smile and an iron grip on his instructor. 😄 He loved the water from the start but trusting it took a little time. So we made every lesson an adventure: hiding toys around the pool deck, exploring "the cave" (the skimmer basket 🐚), doing jumps, and working through every piece of equipment we had so he could really feel his body weight in the pool. Fast forward to today, Sabak swims completely independently! We are so incredibly proud of him!
Shaan's journey looked a little different. He took his time warming up to the pool, he was more cautious and thoughtful, never rushing into anything he wasn't ready for. But the moment he felt comfortable with his instructor, he arrived at every single lesson with the biggest smile on his face. 😊 We spent a lot of time building his sense of safety in the water, doing back floats, climbing out from the wall, and getting used to what water on his face feels like. A swimmer who feels safe is a swimmer who can fly. And fly he has. Shaan went from swimming with a noodle, to a belt, to the day he pushed off and swam all on his own. We're still working on those back floats together, and we have absolutely no doubt he's going to nail them. 💙
Two brothers. Two journeys. One incredible family.
Sabak and Shaan, thank you for trusting us with the water! We are so proud of both of you! 🌊💙

📸 Shared with the kind permission of their family.

🌊 More swim times just opened up at ErinoakKids Brampton!

We're thrilled to announce additional lesson spots at our ErinoakKids pool, now available Thursdays starting April 23rd. 🎉

These spots are exclusive to past and present ErinoakKids clients, so if your family has been waiting for the right time to join us in the water this is it!

📲 Register online at app.splashaquatics.ca
📞 Call us at (289) 270-0788
📧 Email us at [email protected]

Spots are limited, we'd love to see you poolside!

You've probably seen the term "neurodiverse-affirming" showing up more and more, but what does it actually mean in practice? 🌊

Neurodiverse-affirming means recognizing that neurological differences — like autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and others — are natural variations in how human brains work. Not deficits to fix. Not problems to overcome. Just different ways of experiencing the world.

Here are four principles that sit at the heart of any truly neurodiverse-affirming approach:

✅ Belonging, not conforming
A neurodiverse-affirming environment isn't built around making someone appear neurotypical. It's built around making sure they feel genuinely welcome, exactly as they are. The goal is belonging, not blending in.

✅ Support, not compliance
Compliance-based approaches say "you must." A neurodiverse-affirming approach says "I think you can, and I'm right here." There's a meaningful difference between walking alongside someone as they discover what they're capable of, and simply instructing them to comply. Trust gets people further than demands ever will.

✅ Sensory needs are respected
We don't tell people to "just get used to it." Sensory discomfort is real, it's valid and every experience should be built around it, not in spite of it.

✅ Progress is personal
What looks small from the outside can be everything on the inside. A first bubble, a first float, a first step off the wall, every milestone deserves to be celebrated, because we know what it took to get there. We never compare. We never minimize.

This month, we'll be sharing how these principles show up in practice in the water, in how we teach, and in how communities can support neurodiverse individuals every day. 💙

Follow along, there's more coming this week!

🚨 NOW AVAILABLE! 🚨
You asked, we delivered! Upgrade your pool deck style with our brand new, limited-edition Croc Jibbitz featuring your favourite Splash Aquatics instructors and Splash team members! 🐊
Get yours before they sell out!

🌊 Our Spring Session starts TOMORROW March 21st! 🌸

Spots are still available, so now is the perfect time to get your little one in the water! Head to our website to register online and lock in your spot.

📍 ErinoakKids Pool Update: Please note that lessons at the ErinoakKids location will not begin until April 21st due to scheduled pool maintenance. We appreciate your patience!

💙 Adaptive Swim Sessions — OAP Funding Eligible
We are proud to offer Adaptive Swim Sessions that are eligible for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding. If you or someone you know is interested in registering for an OAP-eligible session, please reach out to us directly — we're happy to walk you through the process!

📲 Register online or send us a message to learn more. We can't wait to see you in the pool!

TW: Autism and Drowning.

A 2017 study by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that Autistic children and youth were 160 X more at-risk of accidental drowning than the regular pediatric population.
The number is growing.

Splash Aquatics Inc. : Ben, Scott, and myself sat down with Milton's MPP Zee Hamid to highlight this tragic and preventable statistic.
He was taken aback and genuinely wanted to know more.

In our meeting, we discussed why Autistic individuals elope stemming from the need for sensory input, a fight or flight response to internal and external stimuli, or the need for independence without the awareness of dangers.

We described how Splash Aquatics is responding as a "Call to Action," in making our swim sessions
neurodiverse-affirming by providing programming and environments which are accessible and inclusive; trained instructors, parent/instructor communication, and neuro-inclusive aquatic environments to meet sensory needs and safety. Currently, Splash runs their programs in the We Rock The Spectrum - Brampton and ErinoakKids pools in Brampton. Without their partnerships, the Splash's programs could not run and families would not have access.

We explained the barriers to inclusive environments for Autistic individuals due to lack of neurodiverse-affirming environments in overstimulating recreation centers and instructor capacity, or the overwhelming numbers in need to limited spaces available. There are also geographic and economic barriers for caregivers who are already at reduced work loads due to caring for Autistic children, youth, and adults, and the overall financial costs of caring for a special needs individual.

We advocated for government intervention discussing the importance of a proposed "Autism Aquatic Safety Voucher Program" (similar to Florida) to all those waiting for OAP clinical core services in Ontario, and expanding the eligibility of OAP services to include drowning prevention and sensory regulation. This would create more neuro-affirming capacity and programming with towns and cities.

We brought evidence of therapeutic Aquatic benefits for Autistic individuals-
🐟Regulation of the Nervous
System.
🏊‍♀️Movement and Exercise.
🙌Sensory Input and
Connection.
🏘Community Accessibility.
🤽‍♂️Social Emotional Wellness
and Engagement.
🌿Clinical Therapy and Mental
Health Well Being.

Ontario has abundant access to lakes, ponds, streams and residential area reserves. In 2022, The tragic death of 11 year old Dravin Graham who was Autistic and eloped from his home in Lindsay, Ontario was later found in the Scucog River by Police underwater search and rescue. The National Autism Association reports 50% of Autistic children attempt to elope (Journal of Pediatrics). The NAA also has made its mission to educate caregivers & police on Autistic elopement and drowning with their "Search Water First" campaign.

We ended our presentation with gratitude for taking the time to listen to us. The access to equity is removing barriers, justice is access to what was not available. Justice for the children, youth, and adults who have been/ are excluded from just about every place in society.

The other important piece we described was what it was like for a Caregiver to see their child in an environment where everywhere else had been so difficult to access. How caregivers were now sitting and watching their child with a trusted and caring person who believed in them, rather than being asked to leave or get in the water themselves during the lesson.

Autism can be a gift, it can also be a disability. Both are true and can co-exist. Splash Aquatics Inc. is shifting the paradigm to "unable to" or "cannot do" to "all can learn given the right environment."

My son Max is proof of this, along with so many.
"When a flower does not bloom we do not blame the flower, we change its environment," I once heard.

My most memorable part of the presentation was the ending when I took Max's "Baby Shark" toy from the table who lay there life less and did not move or engage, and then put it in the blue water bin. Once in water, "Baby Shark" sang, moved, and was happy.
And that moved all of us.
I left "Baby Shark" for MPP Hamid to remember us by.

Help us spread the word for Aquatic safety and therapeutic benefits.

It's a matter of saving lives, and changing lives, too.

Know someone who'd make an amazing swim instructor? 👇

We're growing our team at Splash Aquatics and looking for passionate candidates with experience working with swimmers of all abilities. We specialize in neurodiverse and adaptive swimming across the GTA, and we're looking for people who truly care. Full details are linked in our bio, and referrals are always welcome!

ErinoakKids, We Rock The Spectrum - Brampton

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ March Break is just around the corner, and we have the perfect way to keep your kids active, regulated, and having fun.

Join us for our March Break Intensive! 🏊‍♂️ This is a 5-day accelerated program where your swimmer gets a 40-minute lesson every single day. It’s amazing for mastering those tricky skills that need extra practice, and getting ready for summer swimming.

Why join? ✨
Consistency: Daily lessons create a comforting routine during the school break. ✨
Value: Get our specialized instruction for just $350/week (approx. $70/lesson)—that is cheaper than our standard weekly rate!

Registration goes live: 👉 Saturday, Jan 31st at 2:00 PM EST.

Log in to app.splashaquatics.ca and click "Book Now" to grab your spot before they’re gone!

Feeling cooped up this winter? 🥶 The pool might be the answer! Here are 3 reasons swimming is a game-changer for sensory seekers during the colder months:

1️⃣ Consistent Sensory Input: The water provides deep, consistent pressure that can be incredibly calming and organizing for the nervous system.
2️⃣ Healthy Energy Release: A perfect way to get out all that built-up energy in a safe and structured environment.
3️⃣ Routine & Predictability: Continuing lessons through winter maintains a comforting routine when other schedules (like school holidays) are disrupted.

Ready to see the benefits for your swimmer? Learn more about our year-round classes at the link in our bio!

📣 BIG NEWS, FAMILIES! 📣

We are thrilled to announce that Splash Aquatics is the first swim school in the Halton and Peel region to offer OAP Eligible Swim Sessions! 🌊✨

Starting January 2026, families can utilize their Ontario Autism Program funding for adaptive swim sessions.
These sessions are:
✅ Overseen by Clinical Supervisor, Bobby Ho, RBA
✅ 1:1 Individualized programming with our highly trained instructors
✅ Held in our neurodiverse-affirming pool environments

We are so proud to bridge the gap between therapeutic goals and water safety.

Spaces are strictly limited. 📞 Call: (289) 270-0788 📧 Email: [email protected]

Joining the Splash Aquatics family is, Maria Garito who will be our new "Neurodiversity Community Laision." 🎉

Maria brings a unique perspective to Splash both as a former educator and now a full time caregiver to her Autistic son, Max. As a neurodivergent person herself, Maria has dedicated the last decade advocating for a more inclusive and accessible world by focusing on community collaboration. Maria learned first hand via her non- speaking son Max that all children, youth, and adults of all abilities can learn to swim when learning practices and environments are neurodiverse- affirming.
Someday, she wishes to open a learning center for neurodivergent learners where recreational opportunities, community engagement, mental health care, and respite for caregivers are the pillars of support- and yes, it will include a massive aquatic area!

You can learn more about Maria and her amazing son Max The Max Life on Facebook where she chronicles the everyday joys and challenges of navigating Autism and Caregiving.