Harbe's Law: Saving Kids with Disabilities in Water | Albany News

Albany News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 9, 2026 · 1m

A heartbreaking drowning of a 7-year-old boy with autism has ignited a statewide push in New York to save lives through inclusive water safety. A new bill proposes Medicaid coverage for specialized swim lessons for children with disabilities, mandatory lifeguard training for autism and other conditions, and requires schools to integrate adaptive aquatic safety into curricula. With autistic kids 160 times more likely to drown, advocates including Senators Patricia Fahy and Charles D. Fall are calling for urgent, systemic change. The legislation also demands state-funded programs prove they’re…