My last two posts have focused on surfing-related nonprofits and Autism. Another such nonprofit is the South Florida-based Surfers for Autism –which holds events as far north as Daytona Beach. The organisation is in its fifth year of staging surfing events to benefit children on the Autism Spectrum and their families…
…About 50 children, ages 7 to 12, got the surfing basics on the sand before paddling out and belly-riding the colorful foam surfboards over knee-high waves.
“Some of these kids have never touched a surfboard before. We had six who stood up and rode it all the way into the sand,” said Lou Rodas [founder of Surfers of Autism ]
“I knew the effect that water had on my brother,” said Rodas, a lifelong surfer whose …autistic brother lives in San Diego. “When autistic kids are in the water, they don’t have to focus on anything else. It’s very soothing and calming.”
…“They take to it right away,” said Don Ryan …an event volunteer from Boca Raton and a competitive surfer for 34 years. “It absolutely works; we don’t know why. They’re out there with the elements: the smell of the ocean; the taste of the salt; the sound of the waves; the buoyancy of being in the water. We have some families who are watching their children surfing and they can’t believe it.”
…The surfers, who collected donations, sold T-shirts and raffled off prizes, will present a check Saturday to Autism Speaks…
Here is a link to a video on Surfers for Autism : Surfers for Autism - YouTube
(source: Autistic children learn ‘language of movement’ - Sun Sentinel )