Surfers Healing Provides Waves of Joy for Autism Community at Doheny State Beach

San Juan Capistrano, CA — The idea behind Surfers Healing is simple.

“We take kids with autism surfing,” founder Izzy Paskowitz said.

This free, one-day surf experience makes the lives of those families a little bit better for that day.

The surfer volunteers are paired up with a child, they paddle out together on tandem boards and catch the waves that come their way.

For Paskowitz, the language of surfing translates to kids with autism.

“The water calms every sense, and for kids with autism, the senses are all firing at once,” Paskowitz said. “In the ocean, you have sights, smells, touch, sounds and the taste of salty water. We help kids through a simple act of riding waves together and encourage them with the experience.”

The love of water is a common denominator with parents of autistic children.

“Every parent will tell you how much their child loves the water,” he said. A lifetime surfer, Paskowitz spoke about changing the lives of thousands of families across the globe living with autism.

“My son Isaiah has autism,” Paskowitz told Patch. “As a surfer, I wanted nothing more than to teach my son how to surf, and love surfing.”

Twenty years ago, Paskowitz discovered that he could connect with Isaiah riding the waves.

“When he was 5 years old, I would take him tandem riding," he said. "I realized that Isaiah didn’t have to be a champion, just getting him in the water where no one could stare at him, we would spend hours at a time there. The biggest challenge is getting him to come out of the water!”

At age 10, Isaiah learned to stand up on the board, inside the whitewater. Steven Slater helped him catch a wave, a priceless moment for his dad.

“He was standing straight up, parallel, balancing on his feet,” Paskowitz said. “That moment is slow-mo burned in my brain. It’s a priceless, priceless moment.”

That moment is one that he wants to give every parent who brings their child to a Surfers Healing event.

After all, not everyone’s dad is a championship surfer.

Heidi Decks spoke of her 9-year-old son Ethan’s second-year experience. Ethan was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism at almost 3 years old. After last year's Surfers Healing event, he couldn’t wait to go back.

“From the day I signed him up, Ethan — who didn’t speak until he was over 5 years old — would tell everyone ‘I’m going surfing!’” she said with a laugh.

Decks learned about the program through the Temecula-based Our Nicholas Foundation, a support network for families affected by autism.

At the event, volunteers work in groups, having learned hands on how to hang out with the children.

“There’s an unbelievable reaction when parents arrive, they think their kid can’t be handled, but it’s like they’re one of our own children when they’re here,” Paskowitz said. Surfers Healing has cultivated a group of volunteer surfers who are “in it for the right reasons,” he said.

The Surfers Healing volunteers have learned that if you are nervous or anxious, the child will know.

"The kids will feed off that nervous vibe, and it’s not a pretty picture,” he said.

Paskowitz knows from personal experience that parents of autistic children ride an emotional rollercoaster.

“You’re super anxious, their bodies don’t allow them to be comfortable enough to try new things,” he said. “Once they do, the water and the ocean — it was made for children with autism. It’s complete sensorial neutralization.”

For Decks, a self-proclaimed “helicopter mom," a day at the beach watching Ethan play from afar is a rare treat.

“Ethan gravitated to the Surfers Healing volunteers on the beach. They talked to him, they knew how to interact with him. He had no apprehension at all.”

Once paired with a buddy, Ethan — who does not know how to swim — was secured in a life jacket and taken tandem surfing.

“They were out 30 to 40 minutes, and they got to surf back in three or four times,” Decks said. “He was able to stand up, and he swallowed a gallon of water. He was fine with it.”

Surfers Healing has gained the notice of surfing’s greats. Kelly Slater is on the board of directors, and other support comes from Garrett McNamara and big-wave rider Mason Barnes to name a few. Hobie and Ford support the organization, whose needs are few. Boards. Life jackets. Vehicles to get them from place to place. But the greatest asset to Surfers Healing are the volunteers.

“They asked him questions, if he was having a good day, what he likes, what he doesn’t like, they let him talk,” Decks said. For her, it was a refreshing, comfortable day at the beach.

“Everyone had a smile on their face all day,” she said. “It’s been a positive experience for Ethan and all of the kids. They are so genuinely happy when they’re out there surfing.”

Father Mark Anselmo had this to say about he and his son's second experience surfing with Surfers Healing: "Nick didn't get up last year for his first time surfing This year, Izzy didn't give up, and got quite a workout to get Nick up on the board, but he did it. Iz was a bit tired after, I think!"

For autism families, there are endless good, bad, sad, elated and heartwarming days, according to Paskowitz. Sponsor Hobie recently donated a special red, blue and yellow board for Isaiah that mirrors the one Paskowitz used to ride.

“He verbalized to them that he wanted that board, and to see it in three dimensions, he can’t stop staring at it,” Paskowitz said.

Paskowitz, a grandfather, just wants to keep surfing and to stay young.

“I want to be in the water with the kids, to surf a lot and to still be part of it all,” he said. “Surfers Healing is our blessing. It’s our destiny. All it takes is to see a kid catch one wave. It’s pretty impactful. We’re just riding waves of joy now.”

Find out more at www.SurfersHealing.org

Photos by Rex Sanchez