Australia's first nationally endorsed online learn-to-swim program that supports the communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing children.
Puggles Swim is Australia's first nationally endorsed online learn to swim program that supports the communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing children. Deaf Children Australia partnered with AUSTSWIM, Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia (SCTA), leading swim course developers, instructors, and deaf elite swimmers, to create an interactive online course.
On successfully completing the course, accredited swim instructors have the skills to teach deaf and hard of hearing children how to swim in a mainstream class. We call them Puggles Skippers, and they are practicing their awesome new skills with great effect in pools across Australia. As a result, more children are enjoying the many benefits this essential life skill offers.
We believe every child has the right to learn to swim, but parents have told us of the challenges of finding a pool, and one close by, that can support their child's communication needs.
Loves the water and is good at kicking, and is learning to swim really fast! He has hearing loss and usually wears his hearing aid. He loves to read, play in the garden with his sister Annie, and of course go to the beach with his buddies. He remembers to take his hearing aid off before swimming so it won't get wet.
Is a good swimmer. Annie wears a cochlear and uses Auslan. She likes to go on all sorts of adventures, bike riding, climbing trees, and jumping into the pool with her friends. She knows to take special care with her cochlear around the water and asks mum to help remove the sound processor before jumping in the pool.
Is a young puggle and loves the water too. He always splashes around in the pool and at the beach. Sam has grommets and wears a headband to keep the grommets secure. He loves playing with his friends, Pip and Annie.
