Just because Davie can't hear doesn't mean he shouldn't be able to swim.
Davie was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome and is profoundly deaf. He relies on bone conduction hearing aids to hear the world around him, but they have to come off in the water, which meant the pool, the beach and even bath time were silent and daunting for him.
His mum Carol worried that Davie would never get to safely enjoy summer like other Aussie kids. Finding a swim teacher who could communicate with him felt impossible, until the family met Ella, a swim teacher learning Auslan who was willing to give it a go.
Now Davie joins his school swimming lessons, plays in the pool with his friends, and enjoys family beach holidays. Most importantly, he's safe in the water.
So deaf and hard of hearing children can learn to swim safely. If you'd like to learn more about the program, visit the Puggles Swim page.
