What is autism?

• Autism is defined by a specific set of behaviours that affect a person’s ability to interact and communicate with others.
• Some neurodivergent people can be challenged in typical contexts as their perceptions and functioning is different from the neurotypical.
• Their motor skills can be reduced
• It can take more time to complete a reasoning, and they have a different way of learning.

SURFEDAUT ASD

The ESFA framework is specifically made for surf activities with children and youth of 8 years and older with level 1 autism. People with this level of autism are characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and communication. However, unlike other levels and early ages, these individuals can lead a relatively independent and normal life. It is considered that more than 60% of people with ASD are Level 1, although, in general, they present the following symptoms:

● Development of language and cognitive functions.

● Difficulty in social interactions; thus, needing help with verbal communication.

● Difficulty in alternating tasks.

● Excellent memory capacity.

● Obsessive ideas or fixed ideas.

● Difficulties in developing empathy.

● Hypersensitivity to some stimuli.

● Difficulties in understanding or performing some gestures and facial expressions.

● Tendency to repeat words without any meaning.

● Difficulty in maintaining a normal conversation, through active listening times and

presence in reciprocal interaction.

● Present repetitive, unusual, and stereotyped body movements, as well as having

difficulty in performing sports learning.

● They may present symptoms of ADHD, among others.