• According to the World Bank, 1 in 5 of the world’s poorest have a form of disability.¹ Moreover, there are startling gaps in education, healthcare, employment and wages between those with disabilities and those without.²

• Did you know that only 45 countries have legislation that protects people with disabilities from discrimination?¹ We have almost 200 countries in our world, and yet we are not adequately serving the community of 1 billion people with disabilities!²

• Even in the United States, which does have systems in place to support persons with disabilities, more than ¾ of assistance comes from families and friends:³ unpaid caregivers who generously donate their own resources in support.

• In New Haven, where the first chapter of SNUGS was founded, 25.6% of the residents live below the poverty line.⁴ For low-income households especially, who may rely on the services of social welfare, caregivers and families are under additional strain.

• Swim lessons, although vital for decreasing drowning risk for children with special needs, can pose a significant financial burden. Did you know that 79% of children in households with incomes less than $50,000 have little to no swimming ability?⁵

• This is why at SNUGS we have made it our mission to help children with disabilities and their families by offering free swim lessons. People with disabilities face disadvantages and discrimination around the world, and it is important - it is so important - that we create programs to include and support them. At SNUGS, we hope we can one day expand our free swim lessons to serve children with special needs around the globe.

• Studies show a consistent pattern of greater diagnosed cases of ASD in white children than black or Hispanic children. Why? Studies have shown socioeconomic differences across races lead to unequal access to education and resources on disabilities.¹

• A study published by the USA Swimming Foundation in May 2017 pointed to racial differences that correlate with swimming ability:²
  • African-American children and parents are 3 times more fearful of drowning than their Caucasian counterparts.²
  • Nearly 64% of African-American children have little to no swimming ability.²
  • 78% of African-American children have parents with little to no swimming ability and are more likely to lack the ability to swim.²
  • 65% of African-American children wish they could swim more than they do.²

At SNUGS we are especially committed to helping historically underserved communities and to doing everything possible to provide resources for the disadvantaged through our programs and activism.