West-St. Thomas-Family Swimming

Registration Opens January 1st at 9AM

Join Autism Ontario for a private 1hr swim at the St. Thomas YMCA. Come enjoy a swim while making meaningful connections with others in the community. For the duration of the hour, guests can have access to the pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room.

Families must arrive between 1:45PM-2:45PM to check in with an Autism Ontario staff member. Staff will no longer be on site after this point. Please note that the YMCA closes promptly at 4PM.

Cost: $3 per person, no refunds

Families must also agree to adhere to the pool’s rules which include:

All swimmers 12 years of age and younger must either: 
Pass the facility swim test and wear a Y swim wristband OR swim WITHIN ARMS REACH at all times of a guardian at least 13 years of age in shallow water.
The ratio of guardians to swimmers who have not passed the swim test is 1:4 
Shallow water is where the guardian is able to touch the bottom comfortably.
Swimmers 8 years of age and younger displaying the swim wristband must have a guardian remain within the pool area.

Swim test includes:
Swim a minimum of 15m from shallow to deep water.
Exit and jump into deep water.
Tread water for 30 seconds with chin out of water the entire time.
Lifeguards have specific items that must be seen to be a successful pass.
A successful pass is determined by the lifeguard on duty only.
At any time, a swimmer looking exhausted or not meeting what must be seen at each step, the swim test will stop.
Must be at least 16 years of age to use the hot tub, sauna and steam room.