Water Safety Awareness

EmPath is dedicated to protecting families impacted by autism through water safety education, autism-friendly swim lessons with the Lakota YMCA, innovative tools like JagTag, and community advocacy—including a petition for protective fencing around retention ponds—to help keep kids safe.

Autism-friendly swim lessons with the Lakota YMCA

We partner with the Lakota YMCA and the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities to provide swim lessons designed specifically for kids on the autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities. These lessons focus on:

  • Small class sizes and patient, trained instructors

  • Sensory-friendly teaching methods and predictable, consistent lesson structure

  • Building water skills (floating, breathing, basic stroke progression) and confidence

  • Teaching safety behaviors (entering/exiting water, staying with an adult, basic rescue response)

How to enroll: contact the Lakota YMCA for current class schedules and registration. EmPath helps connect families to scholarship opportunities and enrollment support — contact us and we’ll walk you through it.

JagTag — an extra layer of safety

JagTag is a wearable tracking bracelet created to help caregivers monitor loved ones who may wander near water. It’s not a replacement for supervision, but it helps families feel more secure.

What JagTag offers:

  • Lightweight, comfortable design for sensory sensitivities

  • Real-time proximity/alert features that notify caregivers if a child leaves a designated safe zone

  • Easy pairing and setup with caregiver phones (we provide simple step-by-step help and troubleshooting)

  • Durable, water-resistant construction made for active kids

Buy & support: A portion of proceeds from JagTag sales supports EmPath programs. Reach out to our team for pairing help, user guides, or to join the JagTag waitlist.

Community advocacy — fencing retention ponds

Many neighborhoods have retention ponds that are attractive hazards for children. EmPath is actively advocating for safer public spaces by supporting a petition to require protective fencing around retention ponds and other high-risk water features.

Why fencing helps:

  • Prevents unsupervised access to deep or steep-bank ponds

  • Reduces accidental entries and gives families an extra barrier of protection

  • Signals community investment in child safety — useful for schools, parks, and developers

Get involved: Sign the petition, share it with neighbors, and contact local officials. EmPath provides template letters and talking points to make advocacy simple and effective.