The latest Awesome Ottawa award goes to Kate Saunders to support an autism swim program at Gloucester High School.

“Children with autism are more likely to drown than the general population,” says Kate, “as water attraction and wandering are common, leading to fatal incidents in pools, ponds, and lakes – especially for young boys.”

“Our swim program provides inclusive, adaptive swimming opportunities, designed specifically for our students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program focuses on water safety, skill development, confidence-building, and sensory regulation in a supportive and structured environment.”

“Beyond teaching swimming skills,” continues Kate, “the program supports physical health, emotional regulation, and social development. Swimming provides calming sensory input, improves motor coordination, and builds independence. Our goal is to remove barriers to aquatic participation while promoting lifelong water safety, self-confidence, and enjoyment of physical activity.”

“Our goal for our students when they graduate at age 21 is for them to be as functionally independent community members as possible, and swimming is one of their favourite community activities. We go once a week, every Tuesday afternoon. They love playing in the water and practicing their swimming skills.”

Kate is a teacher at Gloucester High School. “I am passionate about increasing access to water safety and swim instruction for individuals with autism, and believe that every student deserves the opportunity to feel confident, capable, and safe in the water,” she says. “They deserve a chance to just play and be kids. The joy on their faces makes it all worth it.”