AUTISM, DISABILITIES & SPECIAL NEEDS


​Scroll down for lots of info, photos, videos and more!

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Canine-assisted surfing

Ricochet has been surfing with kids
with special needs & people with
disabilities since 2009.
More info

Canine-assisted therapy

​​Therapy Dogs provide unconditional love, emotional support, understanding & listening anywhere they’re needed. 
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Canine-assisted swimming

Cori heads up our canine-assisted swimming for autism, kids with special needs, fears and other challenges.
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Sensory playroom

​Our sensory play room is offered free of charge to every child who takes a swim lesson, as well as their siblings. 
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Canine-assisted playing

Canine-assisted playing is a unique camaraderie between kids, people with disabilities, veterans & our dogs. 
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Waves of Empowerment

​Each veteran is paired one-on-one with
a child who has special needs for a
day of canine-assisted activities.
More info

Kids & dogs don't need words to communicate

​The video to the left shows Cori going down the slide with Sawyer. You'll notice that two kids slide down after them. Cori goes up to each child to make sure they're ok.

Each child gives the same response... patting her on the head. Both the kids and Cori completely knew how to interact with their non-verbal form of communication.

​Kids and dogs... they just know!


Kids with disabilities are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups in society. Current estimates suggest that there are at least 93 million children with disabilities in the world. Many kids with special needs are judged and defined by their disability, rather than their potential. ​Some families face social withdrawal and isolation because of stigma, prejudice and lack of understanding. But, Ricochet and Cori provide adaptability, so every child regardless of their ability can partake in the activities.

  • ​Nearly 1 in 5 People Have a Disability in the U.S.

  • ​Kids with special needs and people with disabilities are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups in society.

  • The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States is estimated at 1 in 68 births.
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  • ASD is about 4.5 times more common among boys (1 in 42) than among girls (1 in 189).
​​One of the most common symptoms of PTSD, Autism and other disabilities is social anxiety. But, through Ricochet’s innovative model, social skills are improved in a non-judgmental environment where everyone feels accepted. Differences are embraced, which allows each individual to demonstrate their potential for making a positive impact in their lives, as well as the lives of others.

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West is on the spectrum. He used to be afraid of dogs and water. Now, he's
Ricochet's junior water handler, and helps other kids with special needs surf!

Ricochet is like kids who are autistic. They have the same kinds of sensitivities. She sees and experiences the world in the same way they do. She is able to telepathically communicate with them much easier than us humans can. The kids understand her without all of the filters and spoken words. 
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​9 month old puppy saves kids with special needs from drowning

Surfing therapy dog won't leave boy with
ASD until they make eye contact​
​This slow motion video highlights the communication between a dog and a boy on the spectrum. It's epic!​

Notice how Ricochet keeps looking at 8 year old West until he makes eye contact. It appears she is concerned about his well-being after jumping from the surfboard. Her behavior reinforces the concept that dogs are sentient beings capable of empathy. Not only that, but West is deliberate in locking eyes with Ricochet. It's like an unspoken ritual of concern for each other. 

It has been said that individuals with ASD have difficulty with eye contact and communication. Although the interaction between Ricochet and West is brief... it's extremely powerful. They don't need language to interact, communicate and connect on a very deep level. 
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More videos of kids surfing with Ricochet

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Surfing with Ricochet was an awesome experience for Makena and  our family. Getting to be part of this day was an opportunity to get Makena out of her comfort zone and try something new. It was neat meeting Ricochet and the people she has helped that came back to volunteer. We felt welcomed and knew Makena was safe out on the water with Ricochet and her volunteers. ~Amber, Makena's mom

Janice, Amy's mom

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"This pic means more than anyone will ever know. When West was first diagnosed with Autism we were faced with so many challenges. One of the hardest ones was that he could not be off the ground. His therapists tried and failed to put him on swings and devices, but he would scream. The lack of control was terrifying. So to see his feet off the ground and him letting Ricochet take control is inspiring. West has come so far."

~West's mom, Lauren

Lauren, West's mom

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I thought it was the best event we've had yet. The energy was amazing. Everyone was there for the right reasons. To see West transform into a helper/leader and watch the service members smile and help out so freely in that environment was uplifting and healing for all. Also, Adaptive Jim was an inspiration for everyone. ~Lauren, West's mom

Lauren, West's mom

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​Some of the disabilities our dogs work with
  • ​ADD
  • ADHD
  • Aphasia
  • Apraxia
  • Aspergers
  • ASD
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Chronic Illness
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Down Syndrome
  • Hearing Loss and Deafness
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Learning Disability
  • Memory Loss
  • Mental Health
  • Physical Disability
  • Seizure Disorder
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy
  • Speech and Language Disorders
  • Vision Loss and Blindness

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The word I would use to describe my interaction with West is profound. He is great and I'm so happy I got to meet, and learn from him. ~Jim

Janice, Amy's mom

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10 year old West is autistic and first surfed with Ricochet in 2013. He used
to be afraid of water and dogs until Ricochet helped him overcome his fears.
He became a junior water handler and mentor ​to Jim, who recently lost his
​leg in a motorcycle accident.


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I liked how there wasn't a sense of "us and them" or "the disabled and the abled." Everyone was just doing what they could to contribute to creating a joyful day. ~Janice, Amy's mom 

Janice, Amy's mom

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Six year old Sasha is on the spectrum. Kids with special needs typically have an adult supervising them at all times. But when they surf with Ricochet, it’s often the first time they’ve done something completely on their own, which can be very empowering for them.

After Sasha was finished with her rides, she changed into a pink Ricochet shirt and was ready to help others!
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West has become Ricochet’s junior handler
and took ​Jim under his wing to show
​him how to ride with her. ​
​​10 year old Makena is also on the spectrum. She is non-verbal so we had an adult on board to monitor her reactions. Her mom later shared that it was a thumbs up!

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It was fun and cool. My favorite part of the day was helping. ~West, Ricochet's junior handler 

Janice, Amy's mom

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13 year old Ian McFarland (on the left) first surfed with Ricochet in 2009. He suffered a brain injury in a horrific car crash that claimed the lives of his parents. He used to surf with his daddy, but was afraid to go back in the water until Ricochet gave him the confidence to conquer the waves. Now he offers encouragement to other kids.
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​Ian cheers on other surfers, and gives them a pep talk before hitting the waves. ​​
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The Waves of Empowerment program is cool because I got to help other people surf and I loved seeing their big smiles. It's a great environment. Ian. 

Lauren, West's mom

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Everyone involved is developing relationships with each other. They tend to start interacting more, their social skills improve and their compassion & empathy are enhanced. 
Siblings are a big part of this program. Offering them
​volunteer opportunities keeps them involved, active and an
essential member of the team. 

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I thought your plan of assigning military to support individual kids was hugely successful. There were so many layers of success to the event. The differences in our Canine Inspired Community Re-integration graduates from that first orientation to this event was something difficult to describe... WOW! ~ Carol, Paws'itive Teams

Janice, Amy's mom

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Sometimes taking a day off from school to help on the beach is warranted as kids learn a great deal about compassion and community service. They gain such powerful values that can't be taught from a book.  ​
​​When kids are are allowed to help other kids surf with Ricochet, it gives them a sense of worth. Their self-confidence blossoms and their accomplishments are endless. 

We urge kids of our volunteers to become helpers too.
​They typically assist at the shoreline, catching the board when it comes in, and screaming cheers of encouragement.

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Everybody that has surfed with Ricochet and the people hadn't yet surfed got together and helped each other and had a blast!! I loved seeing everyone laughing and the ones I couldn't see was because I had san in my eyes. Luke, Ian's brother

Lauren, West's mom

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Bonds between the kids & military are powerful. Brandon, is a Marine who worked with Ricochet in the Canine Inspired Community Re-Integration program. He often handles Ricochet on the beach, showing kids just how strong her healing power is! ​​
Sasha is given a helping hand. Although they started off as strangers, their bond quickly grew. Trust is paramount when you’re surfing!
Ricochet helps reduce social anxiety as the veterans and children engage in activities that foster positive, interactive relationships.