When her three-year-old autistic grandson, Daniel, was first taken to the Meenachil river by trained swimmers, Shanty M Babu, 53, a native of Kannur, watched on with her heart pounding. It was her decision to bring him to Kottayam for therapy after he had been diagnosed with autism. His mother, Aiswarya, is employed as a nurse in Ireland. When the doctors advised that swimming will do him good, Shanty was sceptical, but she obliged. Deep inside, she knew the risk she took. 

A year later, on September 13, Daniel became the youngest child to complete a 5 km open-water swim across Vembanad Lake under the Sports category in the Asian Book of Records. This time, Shanty felt proud, the slightest hint of doubt had vanished. A month ago, Daniel had swum across the Ashtamudi Lake and received the 'Super Swimmer' title from the Jeevan Reksha Swimming (JRS) Academy, even then Shanty had her inhibitions.

"When Daniel was three, I realised that his hyperactivity was not that of a regular toddler. He would only sleep for an hour at night. He would not eat food with specific textures. He was slow on speech and had no attention span. He would not maintain eye contact or respond to his name being called. Extremely worried about his condition, I took him to see various doctors. He was then diagnosed with autism at Pariyaram Medical College," Shanty said.

For better treatment options, Shanty took Daniel to Kottayam for speech, behavioural, and occupational therapy. It was during this time that his doctors suggested swimming classes.

“My parents were very protective of me, who never let me go near even a canal where all my friends played. So, I was terrified to let Daniel try open-water swimming. But I wanted my boy to get better. Initially, I didn’t tell his mother, my daughter Aiswarya. Only after a couple of classes did I send her a picture of Daniel smiling in the water, to which she was surprised because he rarely smiled. I also didn’t tell my husband, Babu, who stayed back in Kannur to look after our farm," she said.

Shanty said from day one, Daniel loved swimming in the Meenachil River and was a fast learner. "He did not cry or throw tantrums. I also had complete faith in his trainer, Abdul Kalam Azad, who told me, ‘Your child’s life is in my hands. Only send him to us if you truly trust us.’ In most cases, parents hesitate even to take autistic children outside, let alone swim, because they are hard to manage. They often face societal stigmas and feel isolated in their struggle. But this mindset needs to change. Children need social exposure, or else they’ll end up withdrawn,” Shanty said.

Daniel's daily routine in Kottayam was rigorous, swimming from 7 am to 9 am, followed by therapy at Jewel Autism and Child Development Centre, followed by another session in the water from 4.30 pm to 6 pm. "The very first night, Daniel was able to sleep peacefully. Soon, his eating improved and his ability to communicate grew stronger. Now he listens when his name is called and makes eye contact. He started interacting with his siblings, David and Sarah," she said. 

"We are teaching swimming to kids with autism using research-backed techniques specifically developed for differently-abled children," said Azad. "Open-water swimming is especially effective for children with autism, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and related conditions. Techniques like underwater hand signals help them develop focus, responsiveness, and eye contact. People should also understand that children with autism should not be cast aside. They have immense energy, and if channelled wisely, they can achieve wonders," he said.

Dr Vivek U, a psychiatrist at Renai Medicity, added that swimming alone may not account for all of Daniel's progress. "Subsequent therapies combined with physical activity likely contributed to his improvements. Each child's journey with autism is unique, and physical activity plays an important role in most cases," he said.

After a year of training in Kottayam, Daniel returned to Pariyaram and now attends Dreamweaver International Montessori Preschool. "I'm no longer worried about my boy. Doctors said regular schooling will further improve his social skills. He continues swimming in the local panchayat pond after classes. His previously restricted diet has expanded. He enjoys velleyappam, dosa, idiyappam, fruits, and even occasional ice cream after training," Shanty said.

Meanwhile, Shanty no longer fears the water. "After observing for months, with the help of Azad sir, I too learned swimming. It was a truly wondrous experience to find myself floating in the middle of Meenachil River," Shanty said.

"People from different districts called me after hearing Daniel's story. Parents of autistic children, who were initially hesitant because of the risks, are now coming forward. Additionally, our panchayat has promised to clean and set up swimming areas for differently-abled children. I want every panchayat in the state to do the same for their residents. If little Daniel can, so can others," Shanty added.