Aqualiners Wellness and Holistic Center
Water has a way of meeting children where they are — the sensory pressure, the weightlessness, the rhythm. For autistic children who find land-based therapy overwhelming, the pool at Aqualiners can be the first place where their body feels right.
Community submission. Aqualiners provides swimming coaching and hydrotherapy for children with special needs, including autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. Led by AustSwim-certified founder Kavita Chittiappa with 10+ years of experience. Hydrotherapy has emerging evidence for improving motor skills and sensory processing in autistic children (Mortimer et al. 2014, J Autism Dev Disord).
Services
How this entry was verified
AustSwim certification. Hydrotherapy for ASD: Mortimer et al. (2014) J Autism Dev Disord 44:353–364.
Good to know
Pool-based therapy. Parent-child sessions available for younger children.
More therapy centres
- ActivKaarya — Paediatric TherapyRun by Dr. Ushma Goradia, a sensory-certified physiotherapist with extensive paediatric experience in the United States. Clinic in New BEL Road area (north Bangalore).
- Akshadhaa Centre for AutismProvides educational support for children with autism. Founded with enthusiasm and an innovative approach. Part of Akshadhaa Foundation.
- Apoorva Centre for Autism (SAI)Founded in 1996 under the Society for the Autistics in India (SAI), a non-profit trust formed in 1995 by parents of autistic children. Provides education, vocational training, and respite care. Registered under National Trust.
- ASHA — Academy for Severe Handicaps and AutismFounded in 1995, ASHA started with 3 children in a rented building and now serves over 100 students annually. Run by Asha Charitable Trust, the centre provides comprehensive education and therapies for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Services include assessments (autism screening, psychoeducational assessments, adaptive behavior evaluations), early intervention for ages 2–6, a full-day school programme with individualised education plans, speech therapy, physiotherapy, vocational training, and parent training. Maintains a 2:1 student-teacher ratio and reports approximately 80% improvement in functional skills among students.