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Where we live, water is just part of life. But for many families with neurodiverse children, all the swimming-centric summer activities the Shore has to offer can be nerve-wracking.
That’s where Sherye Nickerson of Three Fish Aquatics LLC comes in. Nickerson offers adaptive swim lessons for children with autism and other differences, teaching not only the kids, but also the parents, how to be confident and safe in the water.
“Children with autism are 160% more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. They are drawn to the water. Learning how to wait for permission, breath control, moving forward, taking side, and floating are water competency skills that are first taught for all lessons,” Nickerson said. “Adaptive swim lessons will also give parents that confidence to do water-type activities with their children… using the skills from class to help keep everyone safe.”
Until last year, Nickerson was the only person on the Delmarva Peninsula certified through SwimAngelfish® to teach adaptive lessons. Now she’s one of two. That scarcity means families often travel long distances to work with her — from Salisbury, Virginia, and beyond. “I’ve learned that some swim programs in the area do not have instructors who are comfortable working with those who are neurodiverse,” she said. “Most of the time this experience for parents leaves them discouraged… so it’s important to have programs that specialize in Maryland’s growing neurodiverse community.”
Nickerson has been teaching swim lessons since 2014, but her passion for adaptive instruction comes from personal experience. “My oldest son is neurodivergent,” she said. “When he was learning to swim he struggled with the fine motor skills of learning hand-over-hand coordination. I knew there had to be an easier way.” After completing her highest-level SwimAngelfish® certification in spring 2025, she now has the tools to adapt lessons to each child’s unique needs.
Her approach is simple: see the child first, not the diagnosis. “I recognize their diagnosis but I don’t let it define them,” she said. “My biggest approach to lessons each day is: what progress will be made today? What will they be able to do?”
Caitlin, whose six-year-old son Ethan was born with hydrocephalus and has an autism diagnosis, met Nickerson at a summer safety fair at Greensboro Elementary School. “We live on the river…so we really needed some water safety in our lives,” Caitlin said. “I know how to teach a neurotypical kid how to swim. I had no idea how to teach a kid who can’t talk how to swim.”
Now, Ethan knows to find the side of the pool and use the steps to get in and out. “He’s a lot more cautious around water,” Caitlin said.
Tiffany and Morgan, parents of nine-year-old Mia, also take advantage of Nickerson’s lessons. Mia has ADHD and a chromosome deletion. “She’s always talking about swimming,” Tiffany said. Morgan added, “We just wanted to make sure we got her into some type of special needs swimming lessons so that they had a little bit more time to feature those fundamentals while she’s around the water.”
Nickerson’s work is supported by organizations like Pathfinders for Autism, iFrog Marketing Solutions, Verbal Beginnings, Escape Proving Ground, the Easton Elks Lodge #1622, Denton Christian Church, and Easton Playa Bowls, all of which help make lessons more affordable for families.
