Water Safety and Communication: Saving Lives for Children with Autism

For families of children with autism, water can be both a source of joy and a serious risk. In Florida, where pools, lakes, and beaches are everywhere, water safety is an urgent issue, especially for children with autism who are statistically more vulnerable.

According to the National Autism Association, drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism. In fact, autistic children are 160 times more likely to die from drowning than their typically developing peers. In the Tampa Bay area alone, heartbreaking cases have made headlines over the past several years—children with autism slipping away from caregivers for only a few moments and tragically losing their lives to drowning.

Many of these children are nonverbal, which means they cannot call out for help, explain if they are lost, or tell someone they are in danger. This is where access to communication devices can make the difference between life and death. By giving a child a voice—through an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device—we can reduce frustration, improve awareness, and even allow them to ask for help in emergencies.

At the Robert Norton Foundation, we believe that communication is safety. When a child has the tools to express themselves, their world opens up! Not just emotionally and socially, but physically, too. Pairing water safety education with access to communication devices can literally save lives.

What Parents Can Do:

Prioritize water safety lessons. Many organizations in Tampa Bay offer adaptive swim lessons for children with special needs.

Never let your guard down around water. Even a small body of water, like a retention pond or backyard pool, can be dangerous.

Consider an AAC device. Giving your child a way to express themselves can help reduce wandering, anxiety, and unsafe behaviors near water.

How You Can Help

At the Robert Norton Foundation, we provide communication devices to nonverbal children with autism, helping families who otherwise could not afford them. These devices are more than technology, they’re a lifeline.

With your support, we can reach more families in Tampa Bay and beyond.

Donate today to help provide a device for a child in need.

Partner with us to bring water safety and communication awareness into your community.

Share our mission to spread the word that communication saves lives.

Together, we can prevent tragedies and create a safer, more connected future for children with autism.