…Today, Surfers Healing travels the country to bring the surfing experience to autistic children. Typically, the full-day camp includes an afternoon of music, comedy, and art produced by children who have varied degrees of autism.
But it’s the main event that has so many families turning out to participate – sometimes as many as 500 children for only 100 spots (which are reserved in advance). Amazingly, even among those who are initially frightened by the unfamiliarity of the boards, they calm down almost immediately as they enter the water.
…“I truly believe the water is the element that soothes,” [Izzy Paskowitz, founder of the organisation] has said. “Water, any water, makes a difference.”
And for the rest of the day, they take turns riding the waves with experienced and sometimes well-known professional surfers, all of whom volunteer their time. In some cases, older children even learn enough to surf a small distance on their own.
…Since its first event, Surfers Healing has grown to touch the lives of more than 2,000 children and their families who participate at special camps all over the world …Surfers Healing has future camps planned …with first-time campers being given priority enrollment.
In prior years, the camps were also open to brothers and sisters, but growing demand had made it more difficult to accommodate more children on a shoestring budget. Expenses to host the camps typically include beach permits, insurance, administration, and food for the families. Surfers Healing also purchases new wetsuits, surfboards, rash guards, life vests, and other equipment every season.
…Even today, despite demands, Surfers Healing asks most donors to sponsor children, thereby reducing the cost of the camp and also helping the nonprofit to expand by offering more camps throughout the year.
Inventive sponsors have even sponsored bake sales, car washes, and barbecues, a few of several dozen grassroots ways that people have helped fund the organization. Surfers Healing also manages an online store with T-shirts and charm bracelets to help raise funds and maintains a Facebook page, helping to increase awareness for autism.