Special Needs Surfing Experience

Koha/Donation would be appreciated to go towards running costs, petrol, gear, child minding etc.

Therapy Programme

Simon also offers a ‘surfing experience’ to autistic children and other people with special needs. He is involved with a parent trust called AIT (www.autisminterventiontrust.org.nz) for free. He is now offering free ‘Give it a go’ days during the summer and is taking on autistic children/teenagers privately as part of a positive recreational therapy program that he offers. The program helps these children to focus while having fun. It assists with concentration, co-ordination, motor skills, confidence and communication. Many of these children love the sea ‘water’ due to sensory issues so this provides a calming effect as they love the environment. So it is great therapy as the children are having fun, releasing stress while at the same time improving on many skills. Simon has learn’t many techniques from ABA providers, is currently undertaking RDI for his son and believes the approach with these children needs to be applied with love and understanding and most of all patience.

Simon is involved with Disabled Surfing NZ (who are currently developing guidelines for disabled surfing experience).  The intention is to provide a Surfing Experience to all (mental and physical) special needs. Many of these families with a special needs child are limited to what they can do recreationally, especially as a family unit all having fun together.

Please contact Simon if you are interested in private sessions.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship from Wellington Airport ‘Wild at Heart’ have kindly provided an 11 foot tandem softtop board and 3 life jackets. Simoana's surf coaching can now provide:

A fun recreational experience for the family (with an autistic child) to enjoy together whilst having a safe surfing experience on a tandem board with life jackets.

Venue: Western corner of Lyall Bay (Maranui End) 

These special needs are held when the surf is basically flat and very safe. We will be no more than waist deep.

Date/times will be subject to the conditions being suitable on the day.

Parents/care givers will be fully responsible for their children and be expected to be involved and assist in the water and with the surfing experience. Please advise before the day if you require a wetsuit.

People are likely to be taking photos. Please advise if you do not wish your child’s photo to be used for publicity purposes.

 

Sponsor us

If you would like to sponsor running this program for these special needs surfing experience days please contact Simon.

Pic courtesy Dominion Post 2009