ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A free summer swim program is back in Dougherty County and this year’s organizers said the mission behind the lessons are more urgent than before.

Swim for Life returns May 30 for its 10th year, offering water safety education and swim lessons to local children. For the first time, the program will include a dedicated instructor for children with autism and other disabilities. Organizers are also asking the community to sponsor children after funding cuts reduced support for the event.

Why This Year Is Different

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler, who organizes the annual event, said the expansion of disability-inclusive swim instruction was years in the making and became even more urgent after a 12-year-old child with autism was found dead in an Albany pond in March.

>>READ MORE: 12-year-old with autism found dead in Albany pond, advocates stress water safety education <<

“Most of the time, autistic kids are prone to go to water,” Fowler said. “Now we’re going to have one of the instructors teaching autistic kids.”

Fowler said swim education is now critical for that population of children.

“We have not had a kid to drown that came through the program. That’s one good thing,” he said.

United Way’s Albany Summer Collective will also be on-site, Fowler added, offering additional summer programs for children to participate in. Organizers said it is a first-time collaboration, and they project the number of children to exceed previous years.

How to Help

Fowler said funding for Swim for Life reduced this year after Albany State University cut several programs. He asked community members and businesses to sponsor a child for $25.

Swim for Life is Friday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Albany State University’s West Campus. The event is free for children.

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