“You never know what the outcome of your actions may be. But if you do nothing, there will be no outcome”
A passion for surfing and deep reflection on what surfing actually is led two brothers who are also physical education and special education teachers to realize that, for them, this activity is therapeutic for their emotional balance, besides the advantages in motor abilities that surfing confers as one of the most complete sports out there.
Mission
To bring surf to all, including individuals with disabilities, leaving nobody behind, breaking down stereotypes, and proving that it is possible to foster social inclusion of individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities, ensuring:
Equal Opportunities
Physical and Mental Health / Well-being
Access to Sports and Leisure
Nuno Batalha, Instructor
Physical Education teacher, holds a master's degree in cognitive and motor Special Education. Level II Surf Trainer, accredited by the Portuguese Surfing Federation. Trainer and Guest Speaker on the subject of work experience and studies on surf for individuals with Special Educational Needs.
Edgar Batalha, Instructor
Physical Education teacher, holds a post-graduate degree in cognitive and motor Special Education. Level I Surf Trainer, accredited by the Portuguese Surfing Federation. Trainer and Guest Speaker on the subject of work experience and studies on surf for individuals with Special Educational Needs.
Objectives
We want to intervene in the world of sport, namely, in Education, Recreation, Therapy, and Competition, within the natural surroundings of the beach (direct contact with nature) and using as an intervention tool the sea, the waves, and surfing, all of which help us achieve the following general objectives:
Social inclusion of individuals with disabilities
Autonomy, Personal Development, Participation, Mobility
Individual Dignity
Intervention and affirmation of individuality
Equal opportunities
Fighting prejudice towards disabilities from other citizens
Levels of psychological and social accessibility
Skills developed
Inclusive surf / surf therapy lessons take place almost every weekend for 8 to 10 months each year with our regular customers, but we also have one-off activities involving institutions and schools.
We use surfing as a therapeutic activity to develop skills in our students in the following areas:
Autonomy and independence
Social and emotional stimulation
Psychomotoricity
Attention and concentration
Language and cognition
Sensory/Emotional and Affective Integration
Sensory/Emotional and Affective Integration
Material/Conditions for holding classes
Specialsurf78 provides surf wet suits and boards suited to our students' circumstances and needs.
Where needed, lessons can be held using a Tiralo beach chair or amphibian chair.
The activity will always be planned taking into account sea conditions and especially the individuality of each student. We always have instructors on hand who specialize in teaching surf to individuals with disabilities and the number of instructors is suited to each student and his or her individual needs.
Target audience
All persons, whether or not they have temporary or permanent special cognitive and motor needs.
