38 children with autism, or suspected of being autistic, drowned in Florida in 2025. 6 children with autism, or suspected of being autistic, drowned in Florida in 2026 as of May 5.
140 children with autism, or suspected of being autistic, have drowned in Florida since January 1, 2021.
In 59 percent of all drownings in Florida since 2021 involving a child age 5 or older, the child was autistic, or suspected of being autistic.
These startling figures have been compiled by Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County (CSCPBC) as part of its ongoing work related to autism and drowning. CSCPBC’s April 2024 report “The rise in drownings of children with autism in Florida” is believed to be the most comprehensive study done to date in the United States related to autism and drowning. CSCPBC has continued to build on the report with the creation of a national database tracking drownings involving children with autism.
- To access the report "The rise in drownings of children with autism in Florida," click here.
- To access the national database of drownings involving children with autism, click here. (Last updated on May 5, 2026.)
- Click here for videos of drowning rescues of children with autism.
- To learn more about CSCPBC’s work, or if you are aware of drownings not in the database, please contact Senior Communications Specialist Jon Burstein at 561-374-7616 or e-mail jon.burstein@cscpbc.org.
Other key facts and figures about drownings involving children with autism:
- 188 drownings in Florida have involved children with autism, or suspected of being autistic, since 2012.
- At least 76 children with autism, or suspected of being autistic, drowned in the United States in 2025, according to data compiled by CSCPBC. 72 children with autism, or suspected of being autistic, drowned in United States in 2024.
- At least 267 children with autism, or suspected of being autistic, have drowned in the United States since January 1, 2021, according to data compiled by CSCPBC.
- Ponds/retention ponds are the most likely bodies of water where a child with autism will drown in Florida.
What is CSCPBC doing in response to the report?
- Funded a pilot program of the Autism Society of America that is training water safety instructors on working with children on the spectrum. The program launched in June 2024 at Small Fish Big Fish Swim School, a privately-owned swim school in West Palm Beach.
- Funded swim lessons taught to students at The Learning Center, a charter school for children with autism, by instructors who received the training through the pilot program of the Autism Society of America.
- Partnering with Safe Kids Palm Beach County, the local chapter of Safe Kids Worldwide, to create safety boxes for families with children who have been newly diagnosed. The boxes are now being distributed by FAU CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities). CSCPBC has provided $50,000 in funding for the boxes in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
- Developing messaging related to the dangers of wandering and figuring out how to reach Palm Beach County families with newly-diagnosed children.
- CSCPBC funded transportation costs and towels for students at Gove Elementary School in Belle Glade to receive swim lessons in May 2024 and May 2025 at Pioneer Park Pool. Two Gove Elementary School students with autism drowned in separate incidents in December 2023 and February 2024.
The project at Gove Elementary now serves as a model for the newly-formed Glades Swim Initiative. The Initiative is a collaboration of Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation, the Palm Beach County School District, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County and Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County. The Initiative’s goal is to provide in-school swim lessons for all kindergarteners, first-graders and ESE students from Pre-K to second grade at Belle Glade elementary schools.
- In January 2026, CSCPBC hosted the first-ever Palm Beach County Autism and Water Safety Symposium, a gathering of more than 60 service providers for children with autism, pool managers, autism advocates, parents and researchers.