Wave of compassion

Surfing the Spectrum
Inspiring. Selfless. Enthusiastic.

Aimee Blacker is filling a huge gap in the lives of autistic children and their families.

As an occupational therapist, she knows that many of these kids are excluded from social and recreational activities. This can have a devastating impact on their wellbeing.

Determined to make a change, Aimee co-founded the not-for-profit Surfing the Spectrum, to allow children to experience the joy of surfing and the ocean.

Seven surf schools have jumped on board. With Aimee’s help, they learned the skills needed to teach autistic kids how to surf. Other surfing communities are now eager to get involved.

“Surfing the Spectrum addresses the grave inequity faced by the Autism community, who are being deprived of meaningful experiences,” Aimee says.

So far, there have been 12 events at seven beaches along the NSW coast, introducing 350 families living with autism to the thrill of conquering the waves.

It’s been challenging for Aimee who has made personal sacrifices to develop the program while working full-time.

“There were occasions where we faced the challenging decision of whether we could sustain the pace,” she says.

“However, the faces of smiling, joyful kids allowed to be themselves and countless letters of gratitude kept driving us in those first hard years.”

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Surfing the Spectrum will use its grant to expand the reach to more surf schools of an autism-informed program that Aimee is currently writing.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here