Victor dos Anjos

I do not share the idea of opening my personal life, in a raw manner, to other individuals; however, I believe that this text is not raw, and that my consciously unconscious writing will present simple and complex premises that go beyond “it was something that occurred in my personal life”.

15 October 2025, after sending a report-letter to Professor Tony, with my readings on the work that had been, and continues to be, developed with my sister (who is autistic, support level 3), he replied with praise for my text, with happiness regarding the progress observed in his student, and gifted my intellect with a term that, until then, I did not know: AQUATIC STIMULATION.

I was fascinated (and the Professor knows this, because I expressed my fascination to him, and I am certain that my eyes were shining while I spoke — indiscreet laughter). Until then, I knew the term “adapted swimming”, or “adapted sport”, and, later, while writing the letter, I came to know the term “hydrotherapy”… Nevertheless, the term that distinct worlds, within my psychic universe, agreed was the most appropriate was AQUATIC STIMULATION.

I remember that I even explained this to Professor Tony (an audacity on my part, considering that it was he who introduced me to the term), regarding how “adapted swimming” still basically presumes, with reference to the words used and their meanings, the learning of the four swimming strokes — Front Crawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly. As for “hydrotherapy”, the basics: it is carried out by a physiotherapist, and presumes other issues, equipment, and not necessarily the learning of swimming strokes, or aspects related to them — it is another universe.

Next, I land on Aquatic Stimulation. As the term itself suggests, it consists of the use of the aquatic environment as a space for the proposition of stimuli, aimed at enabling learning, or guiding the construction of learning, in a given individual — in Professor Tony’s case, this work is carried out, above all, with people with disabilities.

And here, I arrive at the moment in which I need to speak about autistic individuals, with particular emphasis on those who present a greater degree of impairment in cognitive abilities. Because there are formulas, and there is the complexity of each individual; therefore, a formula may be effective for one, may require adaptations for another, and may not work at all for a third. For this reason, I take issue with the term “adapted swimming” — because here there is a promise, and, in most cases (I do not say 100%, so as not to be totalising, mistaken, or pessimistic — indiscreet laughter), promises are not fulfilled.

In Aquatic Stimulation, there is no promise; there is a premise: we will use this space so that the individual may obtain learning, or be guided towards obtaining it. And, as Professor Tony himself always explains, the knowledge acquired in that environment will serve distinct settings — improvements in gait (walking), aspects related to fine motor coordination (grasping with the hands), stimuli for the development of the individual’s verbal language, and other stimuli aimed at independence and autonomy.

Obviously, in this process of aquatic stimulations, the learning of swimming strokes can be obtained — it is not a possibility to be dismissed. Nevertheless, I perceive that, in Aquatic Stimulation, one celebrates the learnings that the individual is gradually obtaining… instead of celebrating only when they are performing X or Y.

Please, I am not belittling the term “adapted swimming”. I am presenting how much “Aquatic Stimulation” encompasses the complexity of the layers.

And, with absolute certainty, I must thank Professor Tony (for introducing me to this term, which travels between the worlds of my psyche), and praise the brilliance of his work. While many do not see potential, he is like a flame polishing, refining, a diamond that he was able to perceive before anyone else. And, he possesses alterity; that is, he can sense the needs of a given student for that moment, what they can or cannot do, the limits of an instant… Always developing strategies, and engaging in dialogue, so that paths are not blocked… It is fantastic.

Here, I believe it is — sufficiently — good to close. The unconscious and the conscious, my entire psychic structure, are in agreement. Therefore, I bid farewell here to you who have read this writing. I do not expect you to like it; I hope you reflect, on “Aquatic Stimulation”… I am the one who has to like it; and I LOVED it (indiscreet laughter).