Caregiver Pilot Program 


Hi and Welcome! We’re Really Glad You’re Here.


This page was created for caregivers of children with differences who are looking for support, education, and practical resources around water safety. You’ll find information to explore at your own pace, along with opportunities to learn more about the Caregiver Pilot Program, which aims to help create a caregiver-informed approach to water safety.

About Me and My Doctoral Experiential Capstone


My name is Kendall Smith, and I am a third-year doctoral student in Occupational Therapy at Tufts University.


For my doctoral experiential capstone, I am gathering direct caregiver feedback on The Sunfish Method’s existing swim instructor program. The goal of this project is to help adapt the training into an online program designed for caregivers, by caregivers, to support families in teaching foundational water-safety skills to their own children.


In other words: caregivers are the experts here and this project centers your voice.

Participation in the Caregiver Pilot Program 



Caregiver voices are essential in shaping meaningful and realistic water-safety programs. This pilot invites caregivers to share their experiences, feedback, and recommendations after completing the existing Sunfish Method swim instructor training.

What Would You Get?

Free knowledge on how to support your child from an experienced adaptive swim instructor and occupational therapist as well as the opportunity to provide input to shape future programming for caregivers

Participation includes:

  • Completing the online training
  • Participating in one virtual focus group
  • Completing brief pre- and post-training surveys

Focus Group Dates (choose one):

  1. March 23rd at 7:30 PM ET
  2. March 27th at 10:00 AM ET


Your input will help guide the development of a future caregiver-focused water-safety program.


📧 Questions or want to learn more? Contact Kendall at ksmith34@tufts.edu

🌊 To access the training, click the “Enroll Now” button and enter promo code CAREGIVERPILOTPROGRAM for free access for the first 30 caregivers.






Blog & Education 

*COMING SOON*

Starting at the Shallow End: An Introduction to The Sunfish Method for Caregivers: 


An introductory overview of The Sunfish Method and how caregivers are being centered in shaping a more accessible, caregiver-informed approach to water safety

  • 👉 To read more, click the “Blog Posts” button below


Practical Tools for Caregivers


This section includes resources designed to support caregivers in real-world water settings.


*COMING SOON*

  • Visual supports and social stories
  • Sensory strategies for water environments 
  • Ways to understand your child’s sensory preferences 
  • General water safety tips/tricks for homes, pools and community spaces 

Additional Caregiver Resources

*COMING SOON* 


Below are additional caregiver-focused resources that may be helpful as you begin learning more about water safety.



Thank You for Being Here


Thank you for taking the time to visit this page and learn more about the Caregiver Pilot Program. Your interest, participation, and feedback directly support my doctoral experiential capstone and help ensure this work is grounded in real caregiver experiences.

By sharing your perspectives, you are helping shape a caregiver-informed approach to water safety, one that is practical, accessible, and reflective of what families truly need. Caregivers bring invaluable expertise, and this project is possible because of your willingness to contribute your voice.

Whether you choose to participate in the pilot or simply explore the resources shared here, your support of this capstone project is deeply appreciated and meaningful.


Yours Truly,

Kendall Smith OT/s