Swimming-Lesson Assistance
Information about DOH-Broward swimming-lesson vouchers, SWIM Central coupons, and Florida swimming-lesson assistance for eligible families.
The Kallie Breeze Foundation, Inc.
Together, We Can Make Lyfe A Breeze.
Preventing tragedies through education, empowerment, and community action—honoring Kallie's light by keeping every child safe around water.
★★★★★
In Memory of Kallie Breeze Bligen
A joyful spirit, forever loved
Our Purpose
Guided by four pillars of action
Every program, partnership, and resource we offer is built on a foundation of care, clarity, and community.
Prevent
We equip families with layers of protection—barriers, supervision, and planning—to stop elopement and drowning before they happen.
Educate
We turn awareness into understanding, sharing clear, actionable safety guidance with parents, caregivers, schools, and first responders.
Advocate
We champion stronger safeguards, including The Kallie Breeze Law, to protect children with autism in and around residential water.
Support
We walk alongside families with compassion, connecting them to resources, swim programs, and a community that never blames.
Meet Kallie
A joyful heart, a lasting legacy
Kallie Breeze Bligen was a bright, loving five-year-old who found joy in music, movement, and the people around her. Her family remembers her laughter, her curiosity, and the way she made every room feel lighter — and louder, in the best way possible.
- She was nonverbal, but she sang every favourite song loud and proud — her voice was pure joy.
- Wicked was her favourite movie, and 'Unlimited' was her anthem. She lived it.
- Music was her language, and she was, in every way, unlimited.
- Her family's love became the foundation's mission.
From Loss to Action
Turning heartbreak into hope
On October 3, 2025, Kallie passed away following an elopement and drowning incident. In the days that followed, her family made a promise: that her light would not fade, and that other children would be protected by what they learned.
The Kallie Breeze Foundation exists to keep that promise—through prevention, education, advocacy, and unwavering support for families navigating autism and water safety.
Sign the PetitionOur mission, defined by action
Because awareness is not enough. We turn love into layers of protection, policy, and real community support for families touched by autism, elopement, and water risk.
01
Prevent elopement tragedies
We help families and communities reduce the risk of wandering and drowning through practical safety education, home safety workshops, and community-level hazard awareness.
02
Educate families & first responders
We deliver clear, research-informed guidance on autism, elopement, and water safety so parents, caregivers, teachers, and emergency personnel can act with confidence before a crisis happens.
03
Advocate for stronger protections
We lead the Kallie Breeze Law initiative — a proposed advocacy effort calling for safety barriers around residential water near homes and communities where autistic children live and play.
Learn more04
Support families touched by loss
We meet families in their hardest moments with grief-informed companionship, resource navigation, and a community that refuses to let them carry the weight alone.
Prevent • Educate • Advocate • Support
Safety Resources That Save Lives
Explore practical, compassionate guidance for preventing elopement and drowning—because every family deserves peace of mind.
What is Autism Elopement?
Elopement, or wandering, is when a child leaves a safe area without supervision. For autistic children, this can happen quickly and silently. Water is a particular risk—many children are drawn to its movement, sound, and sensory calm. Knowing why it happens is the first step to preventing it.
- Strong attraction to water and sensory experiences
- May wander or run unexpectedly, even from familiar places
- Limited awareness of danger or difficulty communicating distress
- May not respond when their name is called
Create Multiple Layers of Safety
No single device can prevent every drowning. Combine close supervision, physical barriers, life jackets, alarms, swim skills, and emergency planning to build a wall of protection around your child.
- Designate a responsible Water Watcher—no phones or distractions
- Install four-sided pool fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates
- Use U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets, never inflatable toys or floaties
- Secure doors, windows, and gates; empty buckets and kiddie pools after use
- Add door/window alarms and visual STOP signs for wandering prevention
Write It Down, Share It Everywhere
A written Family Wandering Emergency Plan gives everyone the information they need to act fast. Include photos, identifying details, communication needs, triggers, favorite places, and nearby water hazards.
- Full name, nickname, height, weight, and identifying features
- Diagnosis, medical info, and sensory or communication needs
- Known wandering triggers and places the child may try to reach
- List all nearby water: pools, ponds, canals, fountains, drainage areas
- Share with caregivers, teachers, babysitters, and first responders—before an emergency
Act Immediately. Call 911.
Every minute matters. Tell responders your child has autism and is at risk of wandering and drowning. Provide a current photo and key information. Check water first—pools, ponds, lakes, canals, fountains, and drainage areas.
- Call 911 immediately—do not wait
- Share communication and behavior details with responders
- Check all nearby water first, then other places the child loves
- Alert neighbors and ask them to check their own yards and pools
Water Smart Broward
Water Safety Resources for Broward County Families
Swimming lessons, financial assistance, CPR education, safety guidance, and drowning-prevention resources—all in one trusted place. Water Smart Broward connects families with SWIM Central, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, and other trusted water-safety programs. Broward County residents can find information about swimming-lesson vouchers, reduced-cost lessons, CPR and first-aid training, lifeguard scholarships, pool barriers, drowning risks, and local aquatic-safety programs. Program availability, eligibility requirements, and benefit amounts may change. Please visit Water Smart Broward for the latest official information. https://watersmartbroward.org/
Find Swim Lessons
Locate participating swim providers and age-appropriate swimming programs throughout Broward County.
CPR and First Aid
Find CPR, first-aid, lifeguard, and water-safety instructor training opportunities.
Drowning-Prevention Education
Access trusted information about supervision, pool barriers, life jackets, water risks, and other layers of protection.
Community Involvement
Learn about the Broward County Drowning Prevention Task Force and youth programs such as Students Preventing Unintentional Drowning.
Water Smart Communites
Water SMART Communities is an initiative designed to work with municipalities in Broward County to promote safe water practices within communities and to eliminate hazards and factors attributed to drowning.
The Kallie Breeze Law
Protect autistic children by requiring safety barriers
The Kallie Breeze Law is a proposed advocacy initiative honoring Kallie's memory by calling for stronger safety protections — specifically safety barriers around residential water near homes and communities. It is not enacted legislation, but a call to action. Together, we can help make residential communities safer for autistic children who wander.
- Safety barriers around residential water hazards
- Awareness of elopement risk in community planning
- Partnerships with housing, public agencies, and advocates
Your signature is more than a number
Because every layer of protection matters
When you sign, share, and advocate, you help build a future where a child's curiosity never becomes a tragedy. You honor Kallie's life by helping families feel safer in their own neighborhoods.
- Sign the Change.org petition
- Share it with your community
- Ask local leaders to support safety barriers
In This Together
Trusted Resources
The Kallie Breeze Foundation is proud to point families toward organizations leading the way in drowning prevention and water safety education.
- Water Smart Broward — drowning prevention, CPR resources, and family education
- Pool Safely — downloadable water-safety materials for parents and children
- National Drowning Prevention Alliance — education, toolkits, and family safety info
- Florida Health WaterSmart — free swimming lesson vouchers
Community Connections
Stronger Together, Safer Together
We believe awareness must lead to action — and that action lives in everyday partnerships: families, first responders, schools, aquatic programs, and the organizations that share our mission.
- No single layer of protection is enough — we build them together
- Every partner expands the circle of safety around every child
- We share only trusted, credible resources
- Together, we make Lyfe a breeze
Our Leadership
The People Behind the Mission
United by one purpose: honoring Kallie Breeze and helping create safer communities for children with autism.
Kayshawn Bligen
Executive Director / Founder
Oversees the foundation's vision, strategy, programs, and compliance, ensuring every effort honors Kallie's memory.
Jasmine Kessler
Co-Founder & Director
Provides strategic guidance and lends her platform and lived experience to public awareness efforts, representing the foundation at select media and community events.
Elizabeth Borden
President (Chairwoman)
Leads high-level operations, strategic decision-making, partnerships, and public representation for the foundation.
Deshia Pinnock
Vice President
Focuses on community outreach, volunteer coordination, and relationship building, connecting families to vital resources.
Lailah Stukes
Secretary / Director of Youth Outreach
Manages youth engagement, social media, and official board records, amplifying the foundation's message to new generations.
Wade Scott
Director of Crisis Intervention & Youth Safety
Oversees youth safety programming, crisis prevention strategies, and school-based outreach, ensuring practical support reaches communities.
Contact Us
Reach Out, We're Here
Questions, partnership ideas, or want to invite the Foundation to speak? We'd love to hear from you.
The Kallie Breeze Foundation, Inc.
South Florida
Response Time: Within 2–3 business days · :
ka.kalliebreezefoundation.orgLet's Connect
We'll get back to you as soon as we can.