Behind the Lens: A Proud Mum Moment, why Autism-Friendly Swimming Lessons Save Lives

By Adele Morris | Bridgend Newborn Photographer & Mum of Three

A personal milestone for my family, a bigger message for all families. As many of you know, I’m not just a photographer, I’m also a mum to three beautiful children, including my autistic son, Iestyn.

This blog isn’t about business, it’s about something much more important. We’re celebrating a huge milestone: Iestyn has just completed his autism-specific swimming lessons with ACE Swim School, and I couldn’t be prouder.

These sessions were part-funded by Inclusability, support that didn’t just help, it changed the course of things for us. It wasn’t just funding. It was recognition. It was someone saying, your child matters, and they deserve safety, joy, and inclusion. For families like ours, this isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s survival.

But in truth, this moment reflects the very heart of my business too. Because supporting and truly understanding the complexities that families like ours bring, the unseen challenges, the emotional load, the adaptive parenting, that’s the ethos behind everything I do.

The Beginning: Overwhelm, 2:1 Support, and Wetsuits

We’ve taken Iestyn swimming for years, but he used to cling to me for dear life, overwhelmed from the moment we entered the building. He needed 2:1 support straight away, even just to get changed safely, and I often had to carry him in and out of the pool because it was too much for him to manage alone.

His safety was always my number one priority, getting myself changed wasn’t even on the list. So I adapted. I started changing at home and wore a wetsuit top and swim shorts, not for style (obviously), but because they dried quickly and let me leave the building looking half-decent without needing an outfit change.

Wearing pool-ready clothes also meant I could scoop him up quickly when needed, because when Iestyn gets overwhelmed, it can sometimes lead to involuntary lashing out. My job as his mum is to keep him safe in and out of the water, and that meant being ready for anything, physically and emotionally.

The Shift: Confidence, Joy, and Compassionate Instruction

Fast forward to today, Iestyn now walks in hand-in-hand with his instructor, Izzy from ACE Swim School, his little face lit up,beaming smile, genuinely excited to go in. The sound of the pool no longer sends him into overload; the unfamiliar smells no longer make him freeze. I’m still nearby, his constant safety net, ready to step in if he needs me, but the difference is, he’s stepping into that water with confidence, he’s able to process the the activity, without fear.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It’s taken years of patience, structure, and a careful handover where I could slowly step back so he could step forward. That’s never easy for a parent, especially when your child’s safety and trust are on the line.

No one knows Iestyn like me and his dad. Parents and caregivers of autistic children are the greatest experts in their child’s world, we see beyond the diagnosis, we know their signals before they speak, the tiny changes that mean “I’m not okay,” the moments when they’re ready to try. We learned to adapt in ways textbooks can’t teach and work harder than anyone will ever see to guide them through skills that can one day save their life.

So when I hand over that responsibility to someone else, it has to be to a person who sees him, not just the diagnosis, not just a “swimming pupil.” Izzy doesn’t simply teach strokes; she meets Iestyn where he is, tunes into his cues, and adapts until he feels safe enough to push himself further. She’s building more than swimming skills, she’s building his trust, his resilience, and his belief that he can.

For children like Iestyn, that kind of understanding isn’t extra. It’s the key to opening doors that otherwise stay locked.

Why This Matters: Water Safety and Autism.

For Iestyn, swimming isn’t just a fun activity. It’s essential. He’s always been drawn to water, mesmerised by it, but that fascination comes with very real risk.

Left unsupervised, Iestyn wouldn’t just throw toys or remotes, if it wasn’t nailed down, it was going down the toilet. You name it, it would be launched.

But it goes beyond that.His pull to water is intense and instinctive, and that’s not uncommon in autistic children.

Iestyn doesn’t just love water; he’s drawn to it in a way that bypasses caution or fear.

He’ll throw himself into bodies of water without a moment’s hesitation, a pond, the sea, a river, even a massive puddle.

It’s something we’ve had to account for in every part of our lives. Trips to the park, walks near open water, even rainy days, they all come with real risk. We’ve had to lock bathrooms, listen for running taps constantly, and intervene mid-“bathroom water party” more times than I can count.

And while it might sound funny or quirky to outsiders, the reality is terrifying.

The risk of drowning is real. The damage to our home from floods and water overflows? Constant. But even more pressing than the repairs or ruined belongings is the worry that one day, we won’t get there fast enough. That’s why access to autism-aware swimming lessons wasn’t a nice-to-have for us. It was non-negotiable.

But here’s what most people don’t realise:Autistic children are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than neurotypical children. That’s not a typo. One hundred and sixty times. It’s one of the leading causes of accidental death in autistic kids, often due to a mix of elopement (wandering off), reduced danger awareness, and that powerful draw to water.

Just recently, another autistic child tragically drowned in North Wales. The pain of that story sits heavy with me. It could so easily be any of us, and that’s why Iestyn learning to swim safely, with someone who truly understands his needs, is not just a milestone. It’s life-saving.

Why Autism-Friendly Swimming Lessons Matter

Autistic children can’t always join mainstream swimming classes. The noise, pace, echoey changing rooms, cold pool temperatures, and rigid routines it can be overwhelming before they even step into the water. That doesn’t mean they should miss out. It means they need a different way in.

That’s what ACE Swim School offered us, and why we’ll never take it for granted.

This is a swim school that gets it.

• A quiet, supportive environment

• 1:1 or 2:1 instruction tailored to the child’s needs

• Instructors like Izzy, trained, experienced, and patient

• Flexibility and understanding over “routine”

• A plan built around our child, not the other way around

Because for families like mine, it’s not as simple as booking a class and showing up. It’s planning days around the session to avoid meltdowns. It’s battling the anxiety of a new setting, the sensory overload of overwhelming situations, the deep fear that our children might be judged or misunderstood.

For us, it was years of holding him tight in the pool because he couldn’t regulate his body or trust the space. It was watching other children float and splash while we were just trying to get through the changing room without a sensory meltdown. I’ve cried in the car more than once after a session, from exhaustion, from frustration, from the loneliness of it all. And that’s why this kind of provision is so important.

These aren’t just lessons. They’re life-saving interventions. They’re about safety, dignity, inclusion, and giving our children a real chance to thrive. Autistic children can learn to swim. They just need to be taught in a way that honours who they are and be bespoke to their individual needs.

Celebrating the Win: Gratitude and Hope

Thanks to ACE Swim School and Inclusability, Iestyn now walks poolside hand in hand with his instructor. He gets into the water calmly, manages to stay in, and even exits the pool without overwhelm.

No lashing out. No panic. No need for me to scoop him up and rush out. Just calm, supported progress, something we once couldn’t imagine. Watching this growth has been huge for us. Knowing he can now enjoy the lesson and take in his surroundings means he’s not just coping, he’s managing it safely.

This is about inclusion. And “inclusion” isn’t just a buzzword, it’s not a checkbox. For families like ours, inclusion means the difference between missing out and taking part. It means recognising that neurodivergent children deserve access to the same life skills as everyone else, but they may need a different path to get there.

That’s why choosing instructors who are trained, qualified, and experienced in working with children like Iestyn is absolutely essential. It’s not just about swimming. It’s about trust. It’s about safety. It’s about being seen. And I’m just so proud.

A Word from ACE Swim School

Creating a safe space in and around the water

A Message from Inclusability

Championing accessible, inclusive experiences for every family

Looking for Autism-Friendly Swimming Lessons in South Wales?

Find Your Village. You’re Not Alone in This

If you’re a parent walking a similar path, I see you. You’re doing better than you think. And with the right support, things can get easier.

Because this isn’t just about swimming lessons or safety plans.

It’s about finding your village, people who get it, who meet your child where they are, and who walk alongside you without judgement.

You deserve that.

Your child does too.

If you’re based in Bridgend, Porthcawl, Swansea, Cardiff, or the surrounding South Wales area, and you’re looking for inclusive swimming classes for your autistic child here’s where to start:

ACE Swim School

Autism-Friendly Swimming Lessons That Truly Work.

ACE Swim School isn’t your average swim school. They specialise in autism-specific swimming lessons tailored to the needs of each child, delivered by qualified instructors with experience in supporting neurodivergent learners.

What makes them different?

• Calm, low-sensory environment.

• 1:1 or small group lesson options.

• Instructors trained to work with children like Iestyn.

• A plan centred around the child, not the programme.

They don’t just teach water skills, they build trust, confidence, and safety from the ground up. For families like mine, it’s more than a service. It’s a lifeline.

Visit ACE Swim School.

Inclusability – Inclusion That’s More Than a Buzzword

Inclusability is a Bridgend-based charity doing incredible work in the community. They help fund and create inclusive opportunities for children and young people with disabilities including sessions like Iestyn’s swimming lessons.

Their ethos? Inclusion isn’t just a word, it’s a commitment to understanding the realities families like ours face and showing up with practical, meaningful support.

Without their help, Iestyn’s lessons wouldn’t have been possible. They’re helping families access the activities and life skills that every child should have, regardless of diagnosis.

Learn More About Inclusability

Inclusion Should Never Be a Box-Ticking Exercise

Supporting and understanding families like mine, the complexities, the challenges, the milestones, that’s the heart of everything I do.

And choosing services that reflect that is essential.

Whether it’s a swim school, a charity, or a photographer, it matters that inclusion isn’t just mentioned, it’s lived.

If you’re reading this and feeling unsure where to begin, let this be your sign: You don’t have to do it alone. The right support is out there.

Final Thoughts: From a Photographer and a Mum

My business, photographing families, is built on truth. The quiet, in-between moments. The real smiles and the raw ones. The stories behind the images: the love, the loss, the fight, the joy.

It’s why I share this. Because behind every milestone like Iestyn calmly getting into a pool, there are countless unseen moments. The risk assessments. The overwhelm. The adaptations at home. The nights spent researching and advocating. The strength it takes just to show up again and again.

Parenting a child with additional needs is relentless, beautiful, exhausting, and deeply rewarding.