Surfers for Autism Hits Treasure Island

Laura Feiner and her family drove up to Treasure Island from Davie (near Fort Lauderdale) last weekend so her sons could do something Treasure Island’s not exactly well known for: surfing.

Luckily, there were a few waves, and the kids had a field day.

Feiner’s nine-year-old son has an autism spectrum disorder she did not specify. She said Surfers for Autism events have really brought him out of his shell. After attending just one Surfers for Autism event as a second grader, she said, a new enthusiasm emerged on the part of her son.

“He wrote his first paragraph ever about surfing,” she said. “He loves the water…he asks me every weekend when he can go surfing again.”

Surfers for Autism originated in South Florida in late 2007.Since then, it’s caught on heavily.

The volunteer-powered events entail bringing children with autism spectrum conditions out to the beach, and teaching them to surf amid the waves. Even if there aren’t any serious waves, organizers say balancing and on a board and being out on the water are therapeutic for participants.

The first event, which took place in Deerfield Beach nearly four years ago, brought out nearly forty children and their families. These days, the 200-kid registration limit reportedly maxes out weeks in advance for each event.

“As surfers, we know the ocean heals,” said Dave Rossman, the organization’s communications director. “I imagine it’s the same thing for them.”

He said these events, which the nonprofit puts on throughout the state and country (the next one is in Georgia), have strong appeal for families that are touched with autism.

“These families, a lot of them withdraw socially,” he said, but these events allow them to come out and meet other families to whom they can relate.

Thousands packed Treasure Island for Saturday’s event. The crowd included vendors, volunteers, budding surfers, and their families. Several musical acts played, including Keith Sykes, who has shared the stage with Jimmy Buffett, and even wrote the Buffett classic “Volcano,” played at the Saturday event.

“It’s just grown into this massive beach party,” Rossman said.

The event, which can raise some $20,000 for the nonprofit (which Rossman said donates some of its own proceeds to autism research).

Surfers for Autism was the brainchild of Dan Ryan.

“I’m touched by autism through my family,” he said. “One in seven boys (has autism). Give me a break.”

Ryan, who said he was formerly an outside sales professional, said he and several other founding members quit their careers so they could devote their time to the organization.

Organizers were stoked about the turnout for the inaugural Treasure Island event (which they say had much better waves than expected).

“These events don’t happen without the host community,” Rossman said. “This community has come out in a big, big, big way.”