Apr 5, 2008 8:21 am US/Eastern
Children With Autism Learn To Tame A Wave
MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ―
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Children learning to surf at South Pointe Park Beach.
CBS
Surf's up, and so are spirits at South Pointe Park Beach. Autistic children hit the waves for the very first time.
The new program is a cooperation between the City of Miami Beach, and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at University of Miami and Nova Southeastern.
"I think everybody should get a chance to surf. It's an amazing sport and it's very fun," said 10-year-old Ryan Martinez to CBS4 Dr. Sean Kenniff.
"When you see a child do something you know they wouldn't be able to do, it's priceless," added Julio Magrisso of the City of Miami Beach.
Riding on a wave of enthusiasm, the kids learned how to "hang ten" or "hi-five" as proud parents cheered them on from the shore. It was clear the boards were boosting confidence and building social skills.
"We wanted to make sure that they get to know other kids, interact with them, and give them an experience other typical developing kids have," said Mari Carmen Saleta.
Martinez explained there are other important lessons learned from such an experience. "It gives me some skills in the water, and it might even help me save someone's life one day. And it's really exciting, especially when you wipe out."
It's the first time they've ever tried a camp like this, so it was limited to older children with high functioning autism. But it's hoped the program can expand this summer to more children, younger children, at all levels of autistic functioning.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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