SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - Sherman held its second annual Adaptive Water Safety Day on Sunday, offering specialized swim instruction to families with children who have autism, ADHD, anxiety and other specialized needs.

The event at the Splash Family Aquatic Center addressed a critical safety gap for families whose children face higher drowning risks and are often excluded from traditional swim programs."Children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown, and the leading cause of death for children under 5 is drowning - so we're here to equip parents with resources, practice, and community in how to increase their water safety awareness," said Christy Baca of Texoma Swim Academy, who started the event.

Children participated in lessons on life jackets, rescue tubes and safe entry and exit from the water.