Just Surf: Kids Break Down Autism Barriers Wave by Wave

Ben Thouard Surf Photography taking a different perspective on the Sport. 

In Spain Kids with Autism are taking to the Ocean to Surf out Autism Barriers. A small organization -Just Surf  (Solo Surf) working in Spain is behind the movement creating commotions with a radical approach to Autism. 

The main newspaper of Spain El Pais reported on June 28 that thanks to Just Surf the sport is now viewed as an emerging therapy for Children with Autism. 

"The process of learning how to Surf, is like learning how to be. You have a problem with balance which makes you lose control of your body and that also happens when you are learning to walk. The source of the research finds its origin there," Jesús Borrego Technical Director of Just Surf told the media. 

"If there is a evolution with the children, and if they every day act less as a child with autism, if psychiatrists and centers value our work, if the Unit sends us more minors...it seems like we really cover this therapeutic area without being it nor wanting to be it," Borrego added. 

Psyciencia described the work conducted by Just Surf in the past years as bearing "impressive results". Fathers who take their kids down to the beach of Spain assure that their children have improved significantly. 

The program of Just Surf is challenging especially because professionals of the area believe that Surf as a Therapy Sport is non-conventional and even considered an "extreme sport". The high physical demands, body coordination and psychological challenges that rise with Surf were believed barriers which could not be crossed by Children with Autism. Just Surf has proved them wrong...but they assure that it was not them who got the job done at the break...it was the children. 

The Director of Just Surf spoke about Iker -a child of 8 years diagnosed with severe autism. Today Iker stands on his board and is able to deal with ocean surf frustrations which wears out even the most professional surfers. Iker has also began interacting with other children in his program. Iker´s Father says that the improvements are at plain sight and are driven by the Surf Program.

"Iker rides loose the waves of the beach of Gaditana de Camposoto (Cadiz-Spain). On the edge of turning eight years old, he does not even notice when his coach is left behind. He stands on his board and maintains balance in focus with a smile on his face. He is tenacious, falls and starts all over without twitching his gesture. According to the diagnostic which the Valuation Unit of Child Psychiatry performed when he was two years old Iker should be frustrated when he does not reach an objective immediately and he should not display empathy to play with other children. In fact, that is the way Iker was when the Autism Spectrum Disorder was first detected on him. But he has changed,” his mother Victoria Fernandez told El Pais . 

"He was diagnosed Severe Autism...and now all that is in the air," the Mother added. What changed? Five years of taking up the Ocean and Surfing at Cadiz with Just Surf. 

“Iker had teached us," (not the other way around) Jesus Borrego Director of the organization assured

Solo Surf explains that they not only work with Children with Autism but call for collaborative Surf with Children with other disabilities. Keeping busy they will continue their practical aspects of the Course from July 1 to September this year and have more plans for the near future. 

Just Surf is a non profit organisation with a set mission: to encourage capacities and global development of people with disabilities, handicapped or with special education needs. Their context is like no other organization working the field: a water ocean context. They believe in sports, recreation and therapy as a mixed discipline. 

"Just Surf is pioneer in the development of Surf, understanding it as an structured educational adaptive model, for the treatment of people with disabilities, being a National and International reference in this fiscal-sportive modality, with positive results for the educative treatment of autism, among other cases," they put their foot down. 

The organization was born from a real hands down experience. Alejandro -young man diagnosed with Autism was in need of alternative activities which would generate benefits for his life. His Mother was on a search for answers in this personal situation in which she found herself embarked into with her son. Alejandro´s Mother had previous experience in psychological education and the water medium for people with Autism as well as had had Surf approaches. In the year 2006 working with Jesus Borrego and Ana Gonzalez they created a new model for the work they said “understood the Ocean as the main referent”.

Using their experience they adapted body, cognitive and social development exercises and works from pools and other contexts to a much more enriched natural environment, the beach, the ocean, waves, friends, surfboards and surf. 

They called their initial work “Therapeutical Experimental Surf Program” and developed it for two years. Alejandro was deeply immersed in this new program and grew with new and rich experiences. From this program Jesus and Ana constructed the final model of the work they do today and created the organization Solo Surf -Just Surf. They add that it is reliable, efficient, safe, educational and favors learning and developing. 

Today they offer several water programs and two Therapeutical Surf Programs -one designed for children from 0 to 6 years of age and another oriented for children, youngs and adults. Parents play a major role in Just Surf and take to the waves and surf side by side. 

In total the organization works over 30 programs for children with mental disabilities. They collaborate with the University of Cadiz Spain, University of Frankfurt and with the Andalusian Society of Medicine of the Sport. The Just Surf team is composed of eight professionals in areas such as psychology, physical education and surf as well as 80 monitors or coach which also take on formations. 

Solo Surf says that the Ocean is a unique and wonderful environment for stimulation of the senses and for the generation of "special moments of life". There they can have fun and rest from day to day activities as well as learn and develop real skills and abilities while connecting with nature in grand by connecting with the Ocean and with the Surf.  

“Smiling Iker (the eight year old boy who made headlines) is up for revision and Victoria (his mother) would not be surprised if his initial diagnosis is reversed. His husband Javier translates his impressions on that sunny Sunday morning at the beach. By his side, Iker has fun and asks his mother how to get rid of the sand which sticks to his feet. He runs to the sea side and goes into the water,” El Pais reports. 

"Our end goal is that people with disabilities understand and learn and give it all, constructing a more real image of themselves as people that are capable, whether they are very young or more adult," Just Surf adds. 

"Surf is a very special way of growing," Solo Surf kicks it.