Hundreds of children with autism are taking part in a free program teaching them surfing skills, giving them greater confidence around water and helping them to make new friends.
Atticus Lambert is smiling ear to ear as he catches his first ever wave on a sunny autumn morning.Atticus is among about 100 children taking part in surf sessions that morning at Perth's Trigg Beach .
After catching as many waves as they can with the help of volunteers, they head back to the shore and get a certificate.and said it aims to help children with autism — who are three times more likely to drown than neurotypical children in Australia — access the ocean safely. "They come down here, they learn that it's okay to fail, they learn that if you fall off a wave, it's okay to try again."Our goal is to make sure we are Australia wide, so every single autistic person in our country gets access to the ocean safely."
"Some parents might not be comfortable taking kids to the beach, it gets those kids more comfortable," she says.Justine Leavy is an associate professor at Curtin University and researches the prevalence of drowning and how to prevent it.
Wa News Asd Surfing Surf Ocean Heroes Rslswa Volunteering Waves Whitewash Trigg Beach
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