Autism Spectrum DisordersSSSNCT02747459
Sensory Supported Swimming for Children With ASD
A study testing Sensory Supported Swimming in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders, run by University of Kansas Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of Sensory Supported Swimming is to provide a sustainable, low cost recreational swim program for children with ASD. A secondary purpose is to train general recreation providers and swim instructors to meet the unique needs of children. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 4 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- What is being tested?
- Sensory Supported Swimming
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 353 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Mar 2012to 31 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 4 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Autism diagnosis (any autism spectrum diagnosis)
- Order of response
Who cannot join
- Children with sensory impairments (i.e., blindness, deafness)
- Based on the discretion of the program directors, participants that display aggressive or harmful behaviors may be excluded for safety purposes
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160
About this study
Official title: Sensory Supported Swimming-Swimming and Water Safety for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
The purpose of Sensory Supported Swimming is to provide a sustainable, low cost recreational swim program for children with ASD. A secondary purpose is to train general recreation providers and swim instructors to meet the unique needs of children. Specific aims include both program development and research aims as described below.
Specific Aims:
- Provide more opportunities for families of children with ASD to access a recreational swim program at low cost. (program development) 2. Increase the capacity of swim instructors and general recreation providers working with children with ASD. (Research) 3. Increase physical activity for children with ASD in a way that is a good match for their individual sensory needs. (Research) 4. Increase safety among children with ASD in and around the water so they and their families can swim safely. (Research) 5. Transition swimmers with ASD from a learn-to-swim program to an inclusive swim team. (Program Development) Hypotheses
- The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase physical activity of children with ASD.
- The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase safety of children with ASD in and around the water.
- The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase the capacity of general recreation providers and swim instructors to serve children with ASD.
Read the detailed description
To decrease risk of drowning, increase opportunities to engage in a lifelong sport, and increase the capacity of general recreation providers, investigators developed a recreational swim program for children with ASD. The purpose of this program is to provide swimming and water safety instruction for children with ASD. A secondary purpose is to train general recreation providers and swim instructors to meet the unique needs of children. Research of this program includes investigating the effects of swimming on health outcomes (i.e., fitness, BMI) of children with ASD. SSS lessons are provided in eight week sessions six times per year. Lessons are individualized according to the child's sensory preferences (as measured by the Sensory Profile). Instructors use evidence-based teaching methods (i.e., visual supports, demonstration, peer and video modelling, sensory modifications) to teach swimming and water safety skills. Children may enroll for as many sessions as desired. Research includes retrospective review of program records.
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Being tested
- Sensory Supported Swimming
- Keywords
- drowning prevention, adapted aquatics, water safety, swim instruction
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Sensory Supported SwimmingBehavioural
Also called Sensory Enhanced Aquatics
A swimming and water safety program for children with autism spectrum disorders. Individualized instruction utilizing evidence-based teaching methods and sensory modifications.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| SSS Intervention | Experimental | Sensory Supported Swimming-eight, 30 minute lessons Receives: Behavioral: Sensory Supported Swimming |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Skill Acquisition Form
This outcome measure was created for the study to measure changes in swimming and water safety skills. The skill acquisition form is supplemented with weekly progress notes.
Measured: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
Instructor Survey
Instructors are surveyed at least annually to determine if Sensory Supported Swimming is increasing their competence to serve children with autism spectrum disorders
Measured: 16 weeks
Parent Survey
Parents of program participants are surveyed at least annually to determine if Sensory Supported Swimming is increasing children's physical activity and safety around water
Measured: 16 weeks
Program Records
demographics forms, enrollment \& attendance records
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Apr 2016 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2012
- Primary completion31 May 2026
- Study completion31 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Autism Spectrum DisordersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Kansas Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Enrolment
- 353 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Kansas Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lisa Mische Lawson, PhD, University of Kansas Medical Center
- Investigators
- Lisa Mische Lawson, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Kansas Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02747459
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 13124
- Acronym
- SSS
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 19 Apr 2016
- Last updated
- 17 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Data is only used my KUMC study team
Publications
Lawson LM, Foster L. Sensory Patterns, Obesity, and Physical Activity Participation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Am J Occup Ther. 2016 Sep-Oct;70(5):7005180070p1-8. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2016.021535.
PubMed 27548863
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sensory Supported Swimming-Swimming and Water Safety for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02747459
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SSS / 13124
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Keywords
- drowning prevention, adapted aquatics, water safety, swim instruction
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 353 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Mar 2012 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Apr 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of Sensory Supported Swimming is to provide a sustainable, low cost recreational swim program for children with ASD. A secondary purpose is to train general recreation providers and swim instructors to meet the unique needs of children. Specific aims include both program development and research aims as described below.
Specific Aims:
- Provide more opportunities for families of children with ASD to access a recreational swim program at low cost. (program development) 2. Increase the capacity of swim instructors and general recreation providers working with children with ASD. (Research) 3. Increase physical activity for children with ASD in a way that is a good match for their individual sensory needs. (Research) 4. Increase safety among children with ASD in and around the water so they and their families can swim safely. (Research) 5. Transition swimmers with ASD from a learn-to-swim program to an inclusive swim team. (Program Development) Hypotheses
- The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase physical activity of children with ASD.
- The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase safety of children with ASD in and around the water.
- The Sensory Supported Swim Program will increase the capacity of general recreation providers and swim instructors to serve children with ASD.
Detailed description
To decrease risk of drowning, increase opportunities to engage in a lifelong sport, and increase the capacity of general recreation providers, investigators developed a recreational swim program for children with ASD. The purpose of this program is to provide swimming and water safety instruction for children with ASD. A secondary purpose is to train general recreation providers and swim instructors to meet the unique needs of children. Research of this program includes investigating the effects of swimming on health outcomes (i.e., fitness, BMI) of children with ASD. SSS lessons are provided in eight week sessions six times per year. Lessons are individualized according to the child's sensory preferences (as measured by the Sensory Profile). Instructors use evidence-based teaching methods (i.e., visual supports, demonstration, peer and video modelling, sensory modifications) to teach swimming and water safety skills. Children may enroll for as many sessions as desired. Research includes retrospective review of program records.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| SSS Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Sensory Supported SwimmingSensory Supported Swimming-eight, 30 minute lessons |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 4 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Autism diagnosis (any autism spectrum diagnosis)
- Order of response
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Children with sensory impairments (i.e., blindness, deafness)
- Based on the discretion of the program directors, participants that display aggressive or harmful behaviors may be excluded for safety purposes
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Sensory Supported SwimmingAlso: Sensory Enhanced AquaticsA swimming and water safety program for children with autism spectrum disorders. Individualized instruction utilizing evidence-based teaching methods and sensory modifications. | Behavioural | SSS Intervention |
Primary outcome
Skill Acquisition Form
Time frame: 8 weeks
This outcome measure was created for the study to measure changes in swimming and water safety skills. The skill acquisition form is supplemented with weekly progress notes.
3 secondary outcomes
Instructor Survey
Time frame: 16 weeks
Parent Survey
Time frame: 16 weeks
Program Records
Time frame: 8 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Jun 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 27548863Lawson LM, Foster L. Sensory Patterns, Obesity, and Physical Activity Participation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Am J Occup Ther. 2016 Sep-Oct;70(5):7005180070p1-8. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2016.021535.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Data is only used my KUMC study team
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Lisa Mische Lawson, PhD principal investigator
University of Kansas Medical Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sensory Supported Swimming in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders, run by University of Kansas Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Skill Acquisition Form (time frame: 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02747459, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Jun 2026.