#126 - Water Safety: Autism Drowning Risks & How to Prevent Tragedy Part 2 with Dayna Harvey & Andy Roszak

Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast!

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of this conversation on autism and water safety yet, be sure to go check that out first—it’s episode #125. In that episode, I sat down with Dayna Harvey, a certified swim instructor who specializes in working with autistic children, and Andy Roszak, an emergency preparedness expert with experience at FEMA and the CDC. Together, we shared eye-opening statistics and essential first steps families can take to begin protecting their children around water.

In this episode—Part 2—we’re diving even deeper. You’ll hear more from Dayna and Andy about why swim lessons alone aren’t enough, how to use visual supports to reinforce water safety, and the critical role of community awareness in preventing drowning.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, teacher, or therapist, this conversation is full of actionable strategies and resources to help keep autistic children safe. Let’s get started.

Bio

Andy Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-Paramedic is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Childhood Preparedness, where he leads efforts to strengthen emergency planning, disaster recovery, and resilience across early childhood and community-based settings. With more than 20 years of experience in public health, emergency management, and health policy, Andrew has worked at the local, state, federal, and nonprofit levels-supporting initiatives that help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises.

Andy is a frequent contributor and subject matter expert for Sesame Street in Communities, where he supports efforts around preparedness, disaster response, and resilience for families and caregivers. A former firefighter, paramedic, and hazardous materials technician, he has also served as a Health Policy Fellow in the U.S. Senate, a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and as a Senior Preparedness Advisor supporting Super Bowl 46 and the Indianapolis 500.

Andy is an award-winning author of the Preparing for the Unexpected book series, and his work has been recognized by organizations including the Red Cross, the City of El Paso, and Sesame Street, where he was named a Sesame Street Hero. His focus is on practical, real-world strategies to help individuals, organizations, and communities be better prepared for whatever challenges may come. Andy is the proud father of two daughters, aged 1 and 4.

Dayna Harvey is a Water Safety and Drowning prevention educator as well as a Swim Lesson Teacher, who specializes in working with children with autism and their parents. She has been teaching swim lessons for the past 35 years and is certified through the Red Cross as well as a program called AutismSwim.

Dayna is on a MISSION to educate and empower parents with information, strategies and hands on tools to help them keep their children safer in and around water because we MUST eradicate childhood drowning. The autism community saw more drownings in 2024 than in any year prior and that has intensified Dayna's commitment to reach more parents with her message and her methods.

Dayna and the Waiting Whale kids, who she created to help engage both parents and children in the education process, have developed the "Where there is water, I will WAIT!" program and The Waiting Whales - Water Safety Kit

Water Safety With Miss Dayna Links:

www.WaterSafetyWithMissDayna.com

www.Facebook.com/WaterSafetyWithMissDayna

www.Instagram.com/WaterSafetyWithMissDayna

Miss Dayna’s Water Safety Kit:

https://watersafetywithmissdayna.com/water-safety-kit

Institute For Childhood Preparedness Links:

https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/

Free Safety-Related Social Stories:

https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/printables

Takeaways

• Water safety is crucial for all children, especially autistic children.

• Visual cues and predictable routines enhance learning for children.

• Creating a waiting area can significantly reduce drowning risks.

• Parents must be fully attentive when children are around water.

• Consistency in teaching water safety is key to success.

• Using a water safety kit can help establish safe practices.

• Children can learn to wait before entering water environments.

• Swim lessons should focus on both water safety and swimming skills.

• Parents should evaluate their home environment for water hazards.

• Empowering parents with knowledge is essential for preventing drownings.

You may also be interested in these supports

1. Visual Support Starter Set 

2. Visual Supports Facebook Group

3. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

4. Autism Little Learners on Facebook