Taking the plunge and joining in
By Barbara Burke · Mon Jul 20 2026
City of Malibu’s award-winning sensory swim program supports autistic and other special needs residents
Everyone in our community has a right to be included in the basic joys of life, and for many, especially in the summer, swimming is joyful and refreshing. When autistic residents and other disabled adults live in a quasi-rural area such as Malibu, it is many times challenging to find recreational opportunities that are inclusive and provide them with sensory integration opportunities in a calm setting.
“Sensory integration” is a term first coined by Dr. A. Jean Ayers, Ph.D., in the 1970s that addresses how one’s nervous system integrates sensory input in our world. Ayers and other scholars and practitioners, such as occupational therapists, explain that those with sensory processing difficulties sometimes may lack the capacity to filter out stimuli, leading them to feel overwhelmed.
Enter the City of Malibu’s Community Services Department, which offers a sensory swim program in summer that expands access to aquatic recreation for people with sensory sensitivities and diverse needs. On June 30, the Department was awarded the 2026 Southern California Public Pool Operators Association Innovative Program Award. The program is offered through a collaboration with the Santa Monica-Malibu District and the Malibu Esperance Center.
“Our clients go to the community swimming pool at Malibu High School once a week, and they love being in the pool and being in the water without loud sounds that can trigger them,” said Samantha Sarmiento Fangonil, Day Program Coordinator for the Esperance Center, a non-profit organization that provides care for adults with autism and mental disabilities in Malibu. “They thoroughly enjoy being in the water.”
Ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can experience joyful swimming
“The sensory swim program removes barriers to participation by providing thoughtful accommodations and trained staff to foster confidence, physical activity and social connection for individuals and families with disabilities who may find traditional aquatic programs inaccessible,” a City press release explained, adding, “The Sensory Swim Program fosters confidence, social connection and physical connection for individuals and families who may not always find traditional aquatic programs accessible.
The program is designed for participants of all ability levels and provides a supportive aquatic environment where individuals with sensory sensitivities and diverse needs can comfortably enjoy the benefits of swimming. By reducing noise and creating a calmer pool setting, the program helps ensure that participants can feel relaxed, safe, and included during their time in the water and that they can enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits of swimming.
“By prioritizing thoughtful accommodations and trained staff support, the initiative helps create a safe, welcoming space where everyone — regardless of ability — can experience the joy and wellness benefits of swimming.”
The Sensory Swim hours for this summer are 10 am to 12 pm every Wednesday through Aug. 5. Readers can find out more information at MalibuCity.org/aquatics.
“Once a month, our clients also enjoy a movie at City Hall,” Fangonil noted. “Our clients also enjoy going to the City’s joy of coloring classes — coloring can calm them down, and it lets out their artistic side.” Both the city and Fangonil emphasized that the inclusive programs are open to all in Malibu.
