Justin Etherton, who has autism, is cheered on by his Kenmont teammates during a Montgomery County Swim League meet in June. (Toni L. Sandys, The Washington Post)
When Justin Etherton reached the end of the pool, he didn’t execute a flip turn like the other boys in his 14-and-under 50-meter freestyle race. Instead, he lifted his body from the water and pushed himself back in the other direction, resuming his clumsy, determined strokes.
By this time, the five other swimmers at the Fallsmead community pool in Rockville had already finished the heat. As they caught their breath, they stood in the water and turned to watch Etherton make his way down the pool toward them. And as the cheers from the crowd of parents and swimmers on the pool deck urging on Etherton grew louder, his fellow competitors joined in the shouting.
Justin Etherton’s father, Mike, was on the deck of the pool, moving alongside his 13-year-old son, stride for stroke, leading the cheers. “Go Justin!” he hollered repeatedly, cupping his hands to his mouth.
With each breath, Justin lifted his round face straight up out of the pool and smiled, listening for familiar voices encouraging him.
As a member of the Kenmont swim team in the Montgomery County Swim League, Justin races each week. And each week he finishes far behind the other swimmers. At the meet at Fallsmead this recent Saturday morning, his finishing time was 1 minute 27.01 seconds — 34.72 seconds behind the next slowest finisher and nearly a full minute behind the event’s winner.
But for Justin, finishing times are secondary to other benefits of racing in a pool. Etherton has autism, and his parents say swimming provides invaluable therapy for their son, as well as a social outlet for him as part of the 101-member Kenmont team.
“It’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to him and to us,” Mary Beth Etherton, his mother, said.
One out of every 150 children in the United States is born with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. The CDC estimates that 560,000 Americans under 22 have some form of autism. According to the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a Baltimore-based organization that aims to improve the lives of children with developmental disabilities, autism is among the autism spectrum disorders, which “affect a child’s ability to communicate, understand language, play and relate to others.”
The Ethertons had struggled to find a physical outlet for Justin until they discovered swimming. He played soccer, but too many elements of the game competed in his mind.
“His attention wasn’t there,” Mike Etherton said. Swimming is “a single thing he can focus on. This is like an accomplishment for him when he finishes a race.”
Rebecca Landa, director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger, said swimming has an advantage over team sports for autistic children because the focus is on the individual.
For Justin, “the swim team is perfect,” Landa said. “When he’s in the water, it’s just him. He doesn’t have to be anticipating when someone’s going to pass the ball to him. That piece of social knowledge doesn’t have to be at the forefront of his mind.”
Justin’s autism is not as severe as many other cases; he speaks and converses on topics that interest him — dinosaurs are at the top of that list — and in July he leads public tours of the butterfly exhibit at Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring. But typically, he is very shy. In an interview he didn’t make eye contact and instead focused on a plastic toy he carried with him, rearranging the arms and legs of a malleable figure. At one point, he said, “This is hard for me.”
Landa, who does not know Justin or his parents, said putting children with autism in a competitive setting isn’t common, but she would encourage other families to do so.
“It’s just the simple self-confidence that one would get from being able to be a part of something and really accomplish something,” she said.
Grace Huettner’s son Billy, 12, also has autism and swims for Potomac Station in the Old Dominion Swim League in Loudoun County. Billy joined the team when his mother became the team treasurer before this season.
“The main focus isn’t to put him in the meets,” Grace Huettner said. “He’s not a competitor by nature; he’s happy with whoever wins.”
Four years ago, Natalie Liniak was looking for places where her son Jonathan, who has a form of autism, could participate in sports in a less competitive environment with other disabled children. She started Sports Plus Group, a Montgomery County nonprofit, and today it serves about 300 children with disabilities ranging from attention deficit disorder to severe autism.
Liniak said athletics help disabled children integrate with other children.
“The benefits go beyond sports,” she said. “We’ve had parents write us letters saying they no longer need [occupational therapy] at school or they no long need [physical therapy] at school. They’re able to play on the playground with typical children in a game of kickball or a game of hoops.”
Justin Etherton has taken part in activities organized by Sports Plus. But for now, he is getting everything he needs at the Kenmont pool, where he has been embraced by the team.
“Justin kind of brings the team together,” said 16-year-old swimmer Madeline Stanley as she stood with a group of Kenmont swimmers shortly after Justin’s 50-meter freestyle race.
Other swimmers quickly agreed that Justin is a valuable member of the team. “Justin is funny,” said one, while another chimed in about his “great imagination” and how entertaining he is when he “makes up things about crocodiles” in the pool. Said another, with a hint of awe in his voice, “He’s an expert on dinosaurs.”
“The team really accepts him and cheers for him and wants him to succeed,” Mike Etherton said.
Justin is a great spokesman for the incredible abilitiies of children with autism! We have seen him in other newsprint as well. Kudos to his parents for all they have done to find the right resources for Justin, and for incorporating his sister, Lauren, in all they do. I think Justin should have a regular column…like “Justin’s Junket” where he shares his joys such as swimming. It is refreshing for families of children with any kind of special needs. If more people stayed focused on the things these children not only can do, but enjoy, it would create a more beautiful, hopeful world. “Goooooooooooooooo JUSTIN!”
I’m delighted to see the Washington Post’s new commitment to swimming coverage, and this article effectively highlights the benefits of swim teams for kids with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs. While such participation can significantly improve self-confidence and social skills, as noted, please don’t overlook the obvious benefit to such participation: physical fitness. Children with disabilities are often excluded from physical education classes and community sports programs. As a result, those who could most benefit from the development of strength, coordination, flexibility, and endurance remain on the sidelines, and become more vulnerable to diseases and conditions related to a sedentary lifestyle. — Mariah Burton Nelson, executive director, American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation
I will never forget the first time I saw Justin swim for our team. I was right next to Mike (Justin’s father) and we were both fighting back tears. It was an extremely emotional and inspiring event as Justin’s family lives around the corner from us and we’ve seen him grow and develop over the years. We were all hollering our lungs out at that meet and we continue to do so everytime he swims. It is always great to see all the kids and everyone around the pool clapping and cheering him on. He is a great kid and it’s a privilege to watch him swim every week as he reminds me there is much more to swimming and sport than who comes in first. Thanks Justin
Jim and Kathleen Coughlin here from Staunton, Va where we read the Post every day. What a delightful surprise to see Justin and Mike on the front page of the sports section. Justin and his mom and dad are old, old friends. No surprise to us that they have been out front getting Justin involved in exciting events like competitive swimming. We are so proud we know and love them. Go JUSTIN. Go MIKE. Go MARY BETH. You too LAUREN!!!