Studies show that accidental drowning is among the leading causes of death for children with intellectual disabilities. Quality swim instruction is not a luxury, but a safety imperative. Many university campuses are situated near low income communities, where specialized swimming lessons are too expensive for financially-burdened parents with disabled children. Special Needs Undergraduate Swim Lessons (SNUGS) brings free, one-on-one, personalized water safety and technique clinics to these areas.

Studies also show that swimming is extremely therapeutic for children with special needs. It provides a social outlet where children can improve their self esteem, speech, cognitive processing and development. These benefits are evident in the interactions that our participants have with SNUGS volunteers.