Start Date
17-6-2025 12:30 PM
End Date
17-6-2025 2:00 PM
Abstract
Introduction: The West Coast Surf Club, Lahinch, Co. Clare, Ireland launched an inclusive surfing programme for Autistic children in 2022. Surfing and access to the ocean aligns with ISAPA’s theme of “Creating Opportunities to Thrive”; Health and Well-being.
Methodology:18 autistic children aged 10-19 years from a local support group “Ennis Voices for Autism” attended a 12 week surfing programme through the West Coast Surf Club. Participants included ambulant children who could swim, liked the sea and could follow instructions. Volunteers including certified surf instructors, disability support workers and chartered paediatric physiotherapists supported the children on a 1:1 basis. The programme included accessing the ocean, surfing skills and play activities in the ocean and beach environment. Participants were interviewed on their experience at the end of the programme.
Results: Participants and families reported benefits including participation in a mainstream outdoors sports club, 1:1 social opportunity in an enriched group environment, enhanced physical activity, sensory regulation, enhanced wellbeing and sleep. Families reported that the programme was one of the only sports clubs/activities that their child could participate in on a long-term basis in the area. 12 children transitioned onto mainstream surfing groups within the club as a result of the programme.
Conclusions: Accessing surfing and the ocean has had major benefits for the surfers in the programme as listed above. Creating new opportunities for this population to thrive has benefited the local community and club, which is now progressing to support people with physical disabilities also access the local environment.
References; Britton, E., Kindermann, G., & Carlin, C. (2020). Surfing and the Senses: Using Body Mapping to Understand the Embodied and Therapeutic Experiences of Young Surfers with Autism. https://www.gjcpp.org/pdfs/BrittonEtAl-Final.pdfE-Book: Addressing Adapted Physical Activity Interventions for Children with Autism. (2017, October 7). Get Autism Active; Get Autism Active :). https://www.getautismactive.com/product/addressing-adapted-physical-activity-interventions-for-children-with-autism/
Recommended Citation
Johnston, Maeve and Smyth, Nuria, "Inclusive Surfing Programme" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 42.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day2/42
Inclusive Surfing Programme
Introduction: The West Coast Surf Club, Lahinch, Co. Clare, Ireland launched an inclusive surfing programme for Autistic children in 2022. Surfing and access to the ocean aligns with ISAPA’s theme of “Creating Opportunities to Thrive”; Health and Well-being.
Methodology:18 autistic children aged 10-19 years from a local support group “Ennis Voices for Autism” attended a 12 week surfing programme through the West Coast Surf Club. Participants included ambulant children who could swim, liked the sea and could follow instructions. Volunteers including certified surf instructors, disability support workers and chartered paediatric physiotherapists supported the children on a 1:1 basis. The programme included accessing the ocean, surfing skills and play activities in the ocean and beach environment. Participants were interviewed on their experience at the end of the programme.
Results: Participants and families reported benefits including participation in a mainstream outdoors sports club, 1:1 social opportunity in an enriched group environment, enhanced physical activity, sensory regulation, enhanced wellbeing and sleep. Families reported that the programme was one of the only sports clubs/activities that their child could participate in on a long-term basis in the area. 12 children transitioned onto mainstream surfing groups within the club as a result of the programme.
Conclusions: Accessing surfing and the ocean has had major benefits for the surfers in the programme as listed above. Creating new opportunities for this population to thrive has benefited the local community and club, which is now progressing to support people with physical disabilities also access the local environment.
References; Britton, E., Kindermann, G., & Carlin, C. (2020). Surfing and the Senses: Using Body Mapping to Understand the Embodied and Therapeutic Experiences of Young Surfers with Autism. https://www.gjcpp.org/pdfs/BrittonEtAl-Final.pdfE-Book: Addressing Adapted Physical Activity Interventions for Children with Autism. (2017, October 7). Get Autism Active; Get Autism Active :). https://www.getautismactive.com/product/addressing-adapted-physical-activity-interventions-for-children-with-autism/