Sutton
Owner of I Can Swim, LLC

Sutton has been teaching individuals with special needs for more than 14 years. She has received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. She holds three teaching credentials in Special Education; early childhood, mild/moderate and moderate/severe. She has Masters of Art in Education. Sutton taught as a swim instructor at the City’s Recreation Department. She is level 2 Adaptive Swim Whisper certified from Swim Angelfish. She has combined her love for teaching children with special needs and her passion for water safety.

Lauren

Adaptive Swim Supervisor

Lauren earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Cal State East Bay. She has been a preschool Autism teacher for 7 years and also has experience with in-home therapy for a non-public agency. Lauren is a former collegiate swimmer and is eager to share her love for aquatic sports by providing access to swimming for individuals with special needs. She is level 2 Adaptive Swim Whisper certified from Swim Angelfish.

Megan
Adaptive Swim Instructor

With over 24 years dedicated to working as a paraprofessional in the Autism program, Megan brings an unparalleled level of experience and compassion to our team. Her lifelong love of water recreation, combined with her deep commitment to the students she serves, has compelled her to help them learn vital swimming skills. We're thrilled to have her bring her passion and expertise to I Can Swim. She is level 1 Adaptive Swim Whisper certified from Swim Angelfish.

Stephanie
Adaptive Swim Instructor

With nearly 20 years of experience as a Special Education Paraprofessional, Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge to our adaptive swim program. Having worked with K-6th grade students on their academic and communication goals, Stephanie is an expert in providing patient, one-on-one instruction. Her experience with assistive technology like AAC devices and basic ASL allows her to connect with and support swimmers in a way that goes beyond traditional instruction. Stephanie is passionate about creating a fun, safe, and inclusive environment for every child.

Jenn
Adaptive Swim Instructor

Jenn brings a compassionate and experienced approach to our adaptive swim program. With a background as a bakery manager and cake decorator, she brings patience, creativity, and strong attention to detail to every lesson. Since 2022, Jenn has worked as a paraprofessional in an autism classroom and is also an autism mom, giving her a deep understanding of diverse needs and communication styles. She is dedicated to creating a calm, supportive environment where every swimmer can learn, grow, and build confidence in the water

Our program is equipped to address all types of challenges.We use several supports to help your child succeed, including:

Adaptive Equipment: In our swim lessons for special needs children, we use adaptive equipment like life jackets, floaties, back floats, flippers, and kickboards to provide support and safety. These tools help children feel secure in the water while developing swimming skills, balance, and confidence.

Visual supports: We use pictures or visual cues to show the steps of a swim skill or routine, which helps kids understand what’s coming next.

Timers: Timers help kids understand how long they need to focus on a skill, giving them clear expectations and structure.
Modeling: We demonstrate swim skills first, so the child can see what they’re expected to do.
Social narratives: These are short stories that explain what will happen during the swim lesson in a way that’s easy for kids to follow, helping reduce anxiety.
Positive reinforcement: We celebrate successes with rewards like praise or small incentives, encouraging kids to stay motivated.
Breaking down steps: We break down swim skills into smaller, manageable steps, using swim equipment and prompting as needed, to guide them through each part of the skill.

By using these tools, we create a structured, supportive environment that makes swimming more accessible and enjoyable.