Surfers For Autism is a 501(c)3 based in Stuart, FL. We provide FREE surf sessions for children and adults with autism and other related developmental delays and disabilities. We host multiple surf events throughout the season, where participants are able make friends, experience something new, unlock unknown potential, as well as mingle with other families in a safe, fun, judgment-free environment. All donations and merchandise sales go to purchasing equipment and keeping our beach events FREE to our participants and families.
There are studies that show the experience of being in the ocean can be very calming and soothing for those living with autism, as their regular daily routine can sometimes leave them feeling overwhelmed and over stimulated. For some, the transformation is almost instantly seen as their entire body is soothed by the rhythm of the oceans waves.
What Surfers For Autism offers is not a cure or even therapy in the traditional sense, but rather an experience where participants get to enjoy the moment with their loved ones as they rise to the challenge of trying something new and achieving it!
It was December of 2007 when a simple idea was presented to a small group of South Florida surfers whose lives and families had been touched by autism. The concept of introducing children on the autism spectrum to surfing took hold, and the group began planning for the inaugural Deerfield Beach event.
On April 5, 2008, the inaugural Surfers for Autism event was held on the north side of the Deerfield Beach Pier. Forty surfers with autism, and related developmental delays, hit the water with the assistance of 200 volunteer surf instructors, plus 2,500 supportive onlookers cheering them on.
Since that day, the organization has hosted events all over the state of Florida, and abroad. Nearly every event on our tour has maxed out due to reaching our limit of 200 registered participants, 350 volunteers and an unknown amount of family members and beach-goers packing local beaches to witness the wonder and transformation first-hand!
Today, Surfers For Autism has changed our approach to our events slightly. When COVID-19 caused shut downs throughout the country, it was apparent we needed to find a way for SFA to continue. The large beach bashes were not able to happen for the time being, and we needed a way to get our families back to the beach. This became our new mission; keep SFA sustainable, and provide as much of the benefits our events have to offer as possible. It took some time, and a lot of planning, but our "Back to the Beach" program began to form.
Instead of big beach bashes, SFA began developing smaller, local chapters. We started with our local area, Martin County, and have expanded to St. Lucie County. Sessions are held for two consecutive Saturdays each month, starting in May through September. This gives our participants more consistency and familiarity with our volunteers, and more of a chance to get on the boards without the large number of participants. Families have found these smaller sessions beneficial for those easily distracted or overwhelmed.
Our goal with the chapters is to spread to areas where there is interest for what Surfers For Autism can offer. With these chapters, we will be able to service areas more than what one day at the beach can. Participants are able to get in the water more than they could during a big event, areas that might not have been able to support a large beach bash are able to have smaller sessions through out the season, and SFA is able to be in more locations at the same time. We are able to spread out-of-state easier with our new chapters, bringing the amazing healing properties and therapies that the ocean provides to more families.
As we begin our 2022 season, post COVID-19 and the global pandemic, we have taken what we learned over the last two years, and are incorporating those ideas into how SFA will move forward. We have had such a positive response to our chapters from families who really felt their benefits, that we want to continue to provide that option to our families. However, we can't forget what makes SFA so exciting and fun...BEACH FESTIVALS!! As we move forward in our country and state after the pandemic shut everything down, we will once again hold our large beach bashes through out the state of Florida. By offering both options, the local Chapters and our Beach Festivals, to our families we hope that we can reach as many families as possible.
If you are interested in starting a chapter in your community please reach out to info@surfersforautism.org for more information.