Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jannet Harriss—City of Miami Beach Staff
A television documentary in early 2008 inspired Julio Magrisso, Assistant Director for the city of Miami Beach Parks & Recreation Department, to pursue the idea of a surf camp for children with autism.
That spring, the department partnered with the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD), a support program, to host the first camp. The idea was to provide a therapeutic surfing experience for children who may not otherwise be able to seek out such an opportunity.
According to the Autism Society of America, one percent of the population ages 3 to 17 has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a life-long developmental disability that impairs communication, self-control, social interaction, and learning.