In December of 2015, The Schuberts’ worst nightmare came true. Ady was able to beat the system and escape her home late in the evening on a rainy night in nothing but her pajamas and bare feet. They had concerns that this day could happen; they prayed that it wouldn’t. While their story ended with a best-case scenario, there are many families whose stories end in tragedy. Check out these unbelievable statistics from the National Autism Association below:

“Roughly half, or 48%, of children with ASD attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings.”

“In 2009, 2010, and 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with ASD ages 14 and younger subsequent to wandering/elopement.”

What a majority of people don’t know is these children are drawn to water, and most of them have never learned to swim. That was the case with the Schubert family. They had tried several swimming instructors in the Birmingham area with no success. Shortly after the eloping incident, they heard of a swimming instructor from Destin, Florida, who had taught many “unteachable” autistic and special-needs children to swim. In March of 2016, probably their biggest accomplishment to date came at the perfect time—Miss Ady learned to swim like a fish!

Brian and Chrissy wanted to share this invaluable training with families in their hometown, so in November of 2016, the Schubert’s asked the swimming instructor who taught Ady to swim to come to Birmingham. Well Coach Mary came, and she taught EIGHT children with autism to swim! There are now eight families who are resting a little better at night knowing that if their child escapes, drowning will not be their concern. Through Ady’s Fins, the Schuberts will have Coach Mary come up each year and teach lifesaving swimming techniques to our special-needs community. This is the branch the Schuberts are most passionate about, as they believe it will bring more peace to these families’ homes. If you would like to donate, please click below to help a local Birmingham child get his/her “fins.”