Kids with autism come ‘out of their shells’ sailing at Making Waves Foundation on Geelong Dock

A Lara mum says sailing brought her non-verbal autistic child “out of his shell”, thanks to one charity’s life-changing voyages for kids with disabilities.

Natalie Reidy is a volunteer for the Making Waves Foundation which has been instrumental for her son Quinn, who has severe autism and developmental delays. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Lara mum says sharing her love of sailing with her non-verbal autistic son brought him “out of his shell” and now she’s helping more children with disabilities take to the water.

Natalie Reidy said her son Quinn was diagnosed with severe autism and developmental delays at 18 months and struggled to be around other people.

But, she said, all that changed when he started sailing, through the Making Waves Foundation’s Winds of Joy program, a charity that helps schoolchildren and young adults with disabilities sail for no cost.

Ms Reidy said being on the racing yacht Quinn’s whole being lit up, and helped him grow in confidence around other people.

“With autism, especially non-verbal, you can really be stuck inside a lot, but he’s definitely coming out of his shell,” she said.

Ms Reidy said she already loved to sail, and being able to share that joy with her son was special.

Natalie Reidy is a volunteer for the Making Waves Foundation which has been instrumental for her son Quinn, 9, who has autism and developmental delays. Picture: Supplied

Now Ms Reidy said she volunteers regularly with the Winds of Joy program.

She said she feels she is giving back and helping create a “big, exciting and safe” opportunity for young people with disabilities like Quinn, to sail.

“Most children probably would never have the opportunity to come out and go on a boat,” she said.

“The foundation is completely funded by donations and run by volunteers so it’s important we keep funding coming in … so that we can keep it free for kids.”

Learning specialist at Melton Specialist School Linsay Knight said she had seen many children with disabilities, like Quinn, change through sailing.

Natalie Reidy's son Quinn, 9, taking part in a Making Waves Foundation sailing event. Picture: Supplied

She said she had been coming down with students to the Geelong Dock for more than two years.

“We find that a lot of the students who would generally be very nervous with different activities and things, getting them out on the boat, they just change,” she said.

Especially, she said, for students from low socio-economic and refugee backgrounds.

“Sometimes these kids have never even been to the water before, never been to a beach,” she said.

Originally published as Kids with autism come ‘out of their shells’ sailing at Making Waves Foundation on Geelong Dock