Program teaches water safety to kids with special needs ANDREW WIND, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier May 1, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A new program is getting preschool students with special needs in the pool. The Cedar Falls Community Schools’ initiative focuses on water safety for the 18 3- and 4-year-olds who participate in the weekly sessions at Peet Junior High School. A lot of partners are working to give the children this experience. Students are enrolled in the Panther Academy for Water Safety, which was started two years ago by Mike Hagensick. PAWS is designed to offer adaptive swimming for people with a range of special needs, from young children to elderly adults.