Life was about riding waves, hanging 10 and having fun for more than a dozen kids and their families on Hollywood beach. It was the kind of day many South Floridians take for granted, but it was extra special for this group. The kids, who have autism, and their families, were part of the Autism Society of Broward's most recent ``Surfing With the Stars'' event.

``It's amazing,'' said Stacey Hoaglund, a member of the organization and an autism support specialist for Fort Lauderdale-based Family Network on Disabilities. ``Everyone has fun, but we find even the most nonverbal and nonfunctioning kids in everyday life become totally themselves in the water.''

Hoaglund, of Cooper City, is also mom to Zachary, 14, whose autism was secondary to everything in the midst of an epic morning tackling baby waves off Meade Street. The Oct. 11 event was the fifth in a series of surfing clinics for autistic kids and families, the brainstorm of Hugh Keough Jr., who's on the Autism Society's board.

Keough's 10-year-old son, who has a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome, began surfing about 2 ½ years ago.

``My son just loves swimming, so I started taking him to surfing lessons,'' said Keough of Davie.

He and his son went to Dutch Schorn with Hang Loose Surf School in Fort Lauderdale, and worked together on the boogie board and surfboard, to get comfortable in the water.

Later, after Keough heard about a surf camp for autistic kids in Miami, he decided to bring surfing to Broward and make it year-round. Keough said autistic children often have social deficits, making it difficult for them to try new activities or be around unfamiliar people.

``I thought it would be better to go out on a regular basis, so they could create some kind of identity with the water and have something to look forward to,'' Keough said.

For the first clinic in October 2008, Schorn offered reduced fees per family, and several community and civic groups pitched in. Since then, sponsors have helped pay. The Kiwanis Club of Cooper City sponsored last week's clinic.

Bruce Bitman, a board member of the Kiwanis Club, watched from the sand while kids, parents and a small army of volunteers were in the water.

``Seeing it happen reaffirms why we help,'' Bitman said. ``I see the achievement, I hear the joy and excitement in the laughter, I can feel their feelings of success.''

Hollywood's Ocean Rescue team helped select the site, a quiet part of the beach with few distractions. They also suggested the best times for the clinics -- at low tide, when calmer waters make it easier to learn. They brought life jackets for the kids, and donated the use of their ocean kayaks and buoys.

Up to 25 kids with autism, ages 4 to 20, participate in the surfing program. Their experience in the water ranges from proficient swimmers to some afraid to leave the sand, Keough said. But even the most adamant landlubbers wind up in the water.

For nearly two hours, Sara McNally, 12, of Weston refused to grab a board and take the surf at the group's first outing. Sara is now among among the most enthusiastic surfers of the lot.

Sunday's challenge was Austin Bowerman-Sullivan, 6, of Fort Lauderdale who promised his parents Tina Sullivan and Terry Bowerman, that he would not surf -- no matter what. ``Stacey gave him a cookie and the rest of the story is just awesome, just awesome,'' Sullivan said.

Keough said he works with families to help acclimate and desensitize children with autism to beach conditions that average children hardly notice such as sand, wind and noisy groups of people. Members of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities help with the desensitization techniques.

Keough encourages parents to take their children to the beach the day before the clinic to help them feel more comfortable.

``I've learned through experience to break it down into baby steps, perhaps to put the board on the sand and pound on the board, or lie on the board, or hug the board, just to get a feel for it,'' Keough said.

Still, some get overwhelmed. Some are afraid. But the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

``There are no winners or losers with surfing. Everybody feels good at the end of the day,'' Keough said. ``My son benefits from the activity because he feels better after the exercise. On the days we go to the beach he's calmer, more focused and relaxed. Other kids get that same benefit.''

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