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Real members of MyAutismTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Any Suggestion For Going To Public Pool?

A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Terre Haute, IN

My son is 11 1/2 yrs old, NON-verbal, and still in diapers. He has not been swimming this year because I do not know how to handle the situation of getting his diaper off. Of course, they do not offer "little swimmers" for children over 100#. When my son swims, we take his diaper off and then will put one, back on when he gets out of pool. My mother has always had a swimming pool, but just recently sold her house. Due to this, we now have to go to a public pool. If I take him by myself, I would… read more

July 21, 2013
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A MyAutismTeam Member

If it is a small community and they do not have a separate family friendly dressing room, ask for them to put up a curtain in one section, they did at my local YMCA because the middle school and high school special ed teachers and paras were all female, but most of their students were male...good luck @CBP gave great advice

July 21, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Try to find type of pool that best fit for your son. My son, 14 yrs. likes pool, too. He became nervous when I bring him a pool with amenities such as water slide. He is calm in a normal, strait forward pool without amenities. Make sure to let his use toilet before bathing and every 30 min. or so. My son tend to feel kaka while in water. I always pay attention when he touches his bottom, which is a sign for kaka.

July 25, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

There are only two public pools where I live and neither one of them have the family restrooms. That was a thought that came to mind but I was not lucky enough to have that. I was not sure if due to Federal ADA laws, if they would HAVE to allow me to take him into the restroom with me? He has to go in the restroom with me, if we are in public anyway, because I can not leave him alone when I go. I just think changing him, in an all women's restroom, may be awkward for some females. (Although my son could care less about anyone else. He doesn't even know the difference between boy & girl yet. {as far as anatomy goes} & he does not even acknowledge other people anyway)Our backyard is ALL concrete (it was like that when we bought our house) and of course not ONE level area to put a big pool up. I just feel so bad that he has not been able to swim this year. EVERY child loves to swim! :(

July 21, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Try calling around to your local pools and ask if any of them family changing rooms. They're usually just a small single room that your whole family can go in by yourselves. They are becoming more common, especially at newer pools so you could have an easy solution if there's one in your area.

July 21, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Many places like the YMCA have a male assistant to assist anyone who need it to the lockers- even bigger boys with imparments ask if they have an assistant to do that for you many times they will accomadate and it gives your son a chance to do a " Normal process

February 8, 2014

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