Miami Beach: Surf camp a wave of fun for autistic kids

Miami.com

April 09, 2008

For many Miami Beach locals, spring break is a time of crowded beaches, dense traffic and high-priced parking, but for one group of local children, Spring Break 2008 was an experience of a lifetime.

The city, in collaboration with the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, held a surfing camp for children with autism spectrum disorders at South Pointe Park. The disorders are developmental disabilities that cause impairments in social interaction and communication.

The timing of the camp -- March 31-April 4 -- coincided with Autism Awareness Month and Autism Awareness Day on April 2.

'It gives the kids an opportunity to do something that they wouldn't be able to do on their own,' said Teresa Barcerra, president of the Autism Society of Miami-Dade, whose autistic son Robert, 11, also attended.

On April 2, many of the 10 campers rode on surfboards with help from the staff. Others just enjoyed being in the water with the boards.

'It has been amazing,' said Edith Guerra, a supervisor with Miami Beach Parks. 'We are learning from each other as we go.'

It was Julio Magrisso, the parks department assistant director, who reached out to the autism center with the idea for the camp.

The autism center is funded through the Florida Department of Education with offices in Coral Gables, Davie and Weston. The goal of the center is to provide assistance to individuals and their families who have autism spectrum disorders or similar disabilities.

The center set up interviews using its database of children in the Miami Beach area with high functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome, to find campers between 10 and 15.

'We were looking to cater the camp to kids with similar needs and who would be able to follow directions and enjoy the camp,' said Jaime Green, site coordinator for Miami Children's Hospital's Dan Marino Center, a branch of the autism center.

The Miami Beach lifeguards and staff went through two days of training where they learned about autism and how to relate to the young campers. Both groups then worked together to come up with a lesson plan and ways to keep track of the campers.

'We took the basic curriculum that we use for surfing and snorkeling camps,' said Warren Green, pool manager for Normandy Pool, where campers first learned basic surfing skills.

With the tips from the autism center, they developed a new curriculum that included a more visual and hands-on experience, Green said.

The children were also taught basic oceanography and meteorology, snorkeling skills and marine life identification and safety.

'The children were very fast learners,' Green said.

Magrisso said he hopes to continue with the camp and make it a seasonal program.

Surfing might become a hobby for some of the kids, Guerra said.

When asked if he would continue to surf, 10-year-old Ryan Martinez couldn't wait to respond.

'I am very inspired,' he said.

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