Making a Splash: VIKING Kids Visit Aquatica Orlando

Learning doesn’t always happen in a classroom. Sometimes, it happens in a lazy river.

Kids in New Vision for Independence’s VIKING Children’s Program recently headed to Aquatica Orlando for a day of swimming, water slides, floating and, most importantly, having fun together.

Four children from New Vision’s youth program pose together in a large swimming pool at Aquatica Orlando. One child waves toward the camera while another smiles broadly. Other swimmers, umbrellas, palm trees and water park features fill the sunny background. — Egypt, Aria, Elijah, and Arabella pose together in a large swimming pool at Aquatica Orlando.

The VIKING program, which serves children ages 6 through 13, is designed to help kids who are blind or have low vision develop independent living skills through experiences they can carry into everyday life. Community outings are an important—and often very fun—part of that process.

With Youth Services Coordinator Jayne along for the adventure, a day at a busy water park offered plenty of natural opportunities to practice those skills. The kids navigated crowded and unfamiliar spaces, practiced water safety, kept track of themselves and their belongings, communicated with others and made choices about the activities they wanted to try.

A crowded lazy river at Aquatica Orlando filled with people floating in inner tubes. The group of New Vision kids are seen enjoying the water in the center of the frame amid several people.

Experiences like these also give kids opportunities to build confidence in environments they may encounter with their families and friends outside of New Vision.

But not every moment needs to feel like a lesson.

There is value in simply getting out into the community, trying something new and having fun with friends. For children who are blind or have low vision, recreation, adventure and a day at the water park should be just as much a part of growing up as they are for anyone else.

From left, Everly and Elijah sit in the shallow edge of a swimming pool at Aquatica Orlando. Everly wears an orange flotation vest, while Elijah wears a blue and bright green swim shirt and goggles. Colorful waterslides are visible behind them. — From left, Everly and Elijah sit in the shallow edge of a swimming pool at Aquatica Orlando.

At New Vision, we believe almost any experience can become an opportunity to build skills and independence—and this one happened to come with waterslides.