Swim Angelfish Adaptive Swim Lessons and Aquatic Therapy

Swim Angelfish Adaptive Swim Lessons and Aquatic Therapy offers Adaptive Swim Lessons, Aquatic Therapy, and Swim Whisperers adaptive swim lessons and swim lessons. The program also offers Adaptive Professional Training through online courses, in-person training, Aquatic Therapy Training, a Swim Whisperers in-water training workshop, and Swim Whisperers Certification. Additional offerings include Camp Angelfish (an overnight 1-week camp), Camp Move to Learn (a three week day camp), Adaptive Mini-Courses, an Adaptive Water Safety Toolkit, Adaptive Water Safety Awareness Days, and consultation services on adaptive aquatic programming.

• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Program options are available on various weekdays and weekends, with daytime and evening hours that vary by activity and host pool location.

Swim Angelfish selects host pools that have a reputation for being sparkling clean, kept at a comfortable temperature, and accessible. The program provides both private and group options for adaptive swim lessons and aquatic therapy and offers adaptive swim lessons for babies to young adults. It specializes in working with individuals who have autism, anxiety, sensory needs, motor challenges, or those who learn differently, and its programs are created for children and young adults with various disabilities.

The Swim Angelfish mission states that the program is devoted to providing Adaptive Swim Lessons, Aquatic Therapy, and Adaptive Professional Training both online and in-person, and is dedicated to transforming all abilities by providing life-changing aquatic skills through its therapy, adaptive swim, and training programs. Swim Angelfish staff are Swim Whisperers certified and First Aid trained, and staff prioritize child safety at all times and use a gentle, positive approach that builds confidence and fosters a lifelong love of the water. The organization offers world-class educational training programs and adaptive resources for aquatic professionals, including Swim Whisperers Multi-Level Online Certification (including Level 4), free adaptive mini-courses focusing on adaptive swim, an Adaptive Water Safety Toolkit as a free adaptive water safety tool, and consultation services that provide personalized guidance on adaptive aquatic programming, infrastructure, innovative group concepts, and operational best practices.

Cindy and Ailene have 30 years of experience as Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapists, which led to the creation of the adaptive Swim Whisperers Methodology, and they are described as champions for all abilities. Their history includes forming Angelfish Therapy in 2000, launching an Aquatic Therapy Course in 2002, publishing a research article using their therapy program as a case study in 2003, launching Camp Angelfish in 2004, introducing adaptive swim lessons in 2008, and beginning Camp Move to Learn in 2009. They launched the Swim Whisperers Professional Training DVD in 2010, Swim Whisperers Multi-Level Online Certification in 2016, Aquatic Therapy Online Courses in 2020, free adaptive mini-courses and the first Swim Whisperers in-water training workshop in 2021, the Adaptive Water Safety Toolkit in 2023, Swim Whisperers Level 4 and Adaptive Water Safety Awareness Days in 2024, and consultation services in 2025.

Swim Angelfish staff are Swim Whisperers certified, and Cindy and Ailene and the Swim Angelfish Community received the NDPA 2025 Lifesaver of the Year Award for monumental and lifesaving contributions in adaptive aquatics, water safety, and drowning prevention. Cindy and Ailene received the NDPA 2025 Lifesaver of the Year Award, and Swim Angelfish currently operates locations in New England only. They have trained hundreds of swim instructors around the world in the Swim Whisperers methodology and provide a Swim Whisperers Certified Instructors Map to help families find specially trained adaptive swim instructors. Their core values are summarized as REAL: Relentless, Exceptional, Adaptive, Loving.

Swim Angelfish collaborates with the community and partners with industry leaders to raise awareness, improve water safety standards, and share adaptive aquatics expertise to support inclusive access. They partner with drowning prevention organizations to create an Adaptive Water Safety Toolkit and have hosted Adaptive Water Safety Awareness Days with larger community and government organizations to bring adaptive water safety skills to everyone. They also work with aquatic organizations in their Partner Spotlight to deliver adaptive aquatic programs and initiatives.

Parent and professional feedback includes a parent describing a child who started with Swim Angelfish due to low muscle tone and sensory issues and later became a very strong swimmer and a member of a local YMCA swim group, noting that staff took time to determine how to best engage the child. A coach from Emmaus Aquatic Club describes the Swim Whisperers course as a game-changer and says lessons have never been better. A professional from Madonna Therapy Plus reports that insight into self-regulation and sensory integration handling techniques from the training was most helpful and immediately used. Voices from Swim Angelfish’s Swim Whisperers Certification state that having the certification has completely changed the way they all teach and think about teaching adaptive aquatics and describe the program as incredible.

Last updated May 14, 2026.