13/08/2026
There’s a lot of misconceptions about neurodivergent students, here’s 3 I hear all the time:
#1 “Autistic students don’t belong in group lessons”: While a little 1:1 attention is helpful for everyone, most mainstream swim lessons are run in a group. Most Autistic students have the ability to learn effectively in this environment too but it may take a shift in your teaching and structuring of lessons. Shifts you make to be more inclusive are not necessarily extra things you do for certain students, but they will help you run more effective classes for all students.
#2 “They’re just being naughty”: Sensory differences and/or language difficulties are commonly seen in our neurodivergent students and can often present as defiance or non-compliance. These children are labelled ‘naughty’ when they don’t have the same skills or tolerance thresholds as their peers and respond in ways that are not expected. The more you understand these challenges, the better you can plan your lessons to suit your students needs.
#3 “Everyone is a little bit Autistic”: Not everyone is autistic (or has ADHD). Some of the characteristics might feel relatable because everyone can experience moments, however, there is no such thing as ‘a little bit Autistic’ and if you resonate with multiple characteristics of neurodivergence then chances are you are also neurodivergent. There is a broad spectrum of presentations and every individual is different so no, not everyone is Autistic now, but we now understand Autism isn’t something to be fixed and many Autistic people are just ‘normal’ people.
P.S. if anyone has figured out what a ‘normal person’ is yet, please drop your secrets below 👇
