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When Carol's toddler was excluded from swimming lessons, she had an epiphany

By Naomi White|

Carol Jennings had been looking forward to watching her son Cameron's swimming lessons from the side of the pool.

After taking him along to baby classes, she'd hoped this would be the next step in her then-toddler learning vital water safety. ?

Instead, the mum-of-three, from the Australian Capital Territory, found herself isolated when he was unable to take part, as mainstream classes were unable to cater for his disability.

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Carol Jennings' son Cameron was her inspiration for launching the swim school. (Supplied)

But Jennings was not going to let Cameron, who is autistic, or other kids in similar circumstances, miss out. So she established her own swim school dedicated to kids with additional or complex needs.

"Taking him to mainstream lessons and seeing him be excluded, sat out and not learning, I had an epiphany: he's not unique in this," she told 9Honey.

"We'd done baby classes, but obviously the parents are in with kids until three and we got his diagnosis just before he turned three. He'd always been a water baby, but that three-four-year-old mark was really challenging. We'd pretty much stopped going at that point, because he couldn't sit and listen." ?

After using her lived experience parenting an autistic child to help other swim schools with their programs, Jennings gained the confidence to start her own, using her own money to form WaterWombats.

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WaterWombats is largely reliant on donated pool time. (Supplied)

Unlike most schools, WaterWombats is a registered charity, which operates as a not-for-profit and is largely reliant on donated pool time and which Jennings volunteers her time to run.

Acknowledging the huge need for these services, Jennings says the school is 'just a drop in the ocean'. Soon after opening, she already had a waitlist of families desperate to enroll their kids, and has to triage applications based on their drowning risk.

But seeing how these children have flourished in an inclusive environment that caters to their needs, sensory or otherwise, keeps her motivated.

Offering classes with one instructor per child, they're able to ensure students get the most from the experience, and can learn in a safe way.

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Jennings' own experiences with her son inspired her to establish the charity. (Supplied)

Hearing the difference, and knowing firsthand, what an impact small gains can have on families has brought its own rewards.

"The families all have different motivations. Quite often they're scared to go out and be social. Being in Canberra, many parks have a pond nearby; if the child is a runner they can't go because they'd run straight to the pond. This gives them the tools to start to join the community, or do things as a family." ?

For one young boy, it's been lifechanging for curbing his restricted eating. A reluctant eater due to food sensitivities, since finding swimming he'll now eat fruit and vegetables because he knows he needs the food to 'have energy' and 'grow his muscles' to swim.

It's allowed another young student to find her voice, helping to strengthen her lungs and develop her muscles so she is now, for the first time, speaking above a whisper, and with confidence.

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Jennings hopes to reach more families this year. (Supplied)

The program also offers a chance to socialise in an inclusive way, build social skills in a neuro-affirming environment and a find a sense of belonging.?

Having seen what a difference the right supports have made for Cameron, who will soon turn nine, Carol is hoping to expand the program to reach as many families as possible.

"Overall, Cameron's come a really long way in the last five years," she shared. "He's at mainstream school, he's academically gifted, he's talking and has friends. He's thriving and that's because I believed in him and had a good support system in place."

"Cameron has been such a blessing, he's helped me see all these possibilities."

Her efforts have recently been recognised by the Panadol Care Collective, rewarding those working to better their communities with a $15,000 grant towards their initiatives.

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