Cash Lambert - Waves of Healing: How Surfing Changes the Lives of Children with Autism

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WAVES OF HEALING

Text copyright 2019 Cash Lambert

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN: 978-1-57826-794-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Cover and Interior Design by Carolyn Kasper

Cover photography by Ben Hicks (benjhicks.com)

Printed in the United States

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CONTENTS

To all those who have surfed for autism:
this is your story.

Introduction

H ave you ever been told that something could change your life?

Maybe it was an investment, a sure thing. Maybe it was a magic pill, a career changeeven a piece of cutting-edge technology.

Maybe you gave it a shot, maybe you didnt. But odds are, it didnt really change your life. So, like a balloon deflating, your budding hopes and desires disappeared. Skepticism set in. That only happens in Hollywood movies became your mentality.

Thats because opportunities that create true life changewhere new passions are instilled that significantly change your lifes trajectoryare few and far between.

And thats why, when they do show up, the moments they create are so special.

Its even more special for families of children with autisma condition that sees children struggle against difficulties with social skills, repetitive behaviors and communication. A condition that affects one out of every 57 children in North America. A condition that irrevocably changes their lives, and the lives of everyone around them.

From the moment a diagnosis is reached, parents begin frantically searching for ways to help their child, leaving no stone unturned. Some are united by the challenge; others separate when the physical, emotional, and financial toll becomes too great.

Then, once a sense of behavioral stability is finally reached, parents continue to search for education and activities to help their child progress further. Its challenging. Its grueling. And its a never-ending process.

Thats why, when the opportunity for a true life change presented itself to families experiencing autism in Florida in 2008, it really was something special.

A new organization, Surfers for Autism, was promising to help autistic children in a new and unique way: through surfing. Many families were understandably hesitant; meltdowns, outbursts and pathological fear were very real risks when placing someone with autism onto a surfboard in the ocean.

But despite misgivings, on a Saturday morning in April of 2008, a group of surfers gathered on a South Florida beach to take children and teenagers with autism and other disabilities surfing.

No one at the event could have predicted what would come next. Throughout that day, 40 participants rode the waves into shore with smiles spread wide across their faces. Some, previously diagnosed as nonverbal, cheered and raised their hands at their accomplishment as they neared the shoreline. Those not receptive to touch were holding hands with the volunteer surf instructors as they waded into the sea. Participants experienced calming effects; others appeared more focused, more attentive.

That day served not only as first event for the nonprofit organization Surfers for Autismit was also the genesis of a community, one united by surfing and autism, that still thrives today. After that inaugural event, Surfers for Autism and its groupie-like community increased in size and influence. A Surf Tour was created that visits 1013 cities and beach towns up and down Floridas golden sand coast throughout the year. Participant lists grew from 40 to 200. The volunteer sign-up list swelled.