Evaluation and treatment of swimming pool avoidance exhibited by an adolescent girl with autism

We evaluated and treated swimming pool avoidance that was exhibited by a 14-year-old girl diagnosed with autism. In part, treatment involved blocking for flopping (dropping to the ground) and elopement (running away from the pool) and access to food for movements toward a swimming pool. Treatment also involved reinforcement for exposure to various depths of water. Generalization of treatment outcome was demonstrated by showing sustained effects with her mother without food reinforcement and, subsequently, by replicating these effects with her mother in an untrained setting.