Benefits of surf therapy for children with disabilities in South Africa: a single case story

The case story of Rowan illustrates how an inclusive surf therapy programme supports the health, development, and relational wellbeing of children with disabilities by reshaping their worldview and strengthening self-confidence. The programme enabled the mastery of new skills that extended beyond the ocean into their homes, schools, and broader ecological systems. This study advances surf therapy research by offering rare longitudinal evidence from a Global South context. It demonstrated how multisystem mechanisms of change, rooted in disability inclusive and community-based frameworks, inform more responsive practice, programming, and policy processes.