Jackson Browne visits Dana Point Headlands

Jackson Browne and Sara McLachlan Come to Dana Point
for Autistic Surf Camp for Kids.

By Mick Peel

If you thought that people you saw in Dana Point last week looked familiar, they probably were.

Luminaries from the world of music, movies, television and surfing descended on the Strand at Headlands in Dana Point for a concert to benefit Surfers Healing, a non-profit group that teaches autistic children to surf.

Jackson Browne, Sarah McLachlan, Thomas Gibson of Criminal Minds, and David Marciano of Homeland, were just a few of the celebs that mingled with Dana Point locals.

“We were proud to support this event,” said Sanford Edward, owner of the Strand at Headlands where Jackson Browne and Sarah McLachlan performed to a sold out group of well wishers. “The Paskowitz family started a surf camp more than 30 years ago. Years later, they discovered that surfing could help one of their family members with autism. Then last year, they helped thousands of autistic children learn how to surf.”

Those familiar with surf legends may have heard about Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, a Stanford-educated M.D. who gave up his practice  in the 1970’s to surf and tour the world in a 24-foot long camper -- with his wife and nine children in tow.

Isreal “Izzy” Paskowitz was right in the middle of the family. By the 1980’s, surfing was his life too. He was winning surf contests around the world, and appearing in Nike ads with Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi and Bo Jackson.  

Then 20 years ago, Isiah was born to him and his wife Danielle. “I had all the dreams any professional athlete would have for their son,” said Izzy on the Carson Daly show.  Then at three-years old, “he stopped talking.”

Izzy soon learned what his wife suspected all along: Their son was autistic.

Soon after, Izzy was getting ready for one of his heats at a professional surfer competition. “Isiah was acting out of control,” Izzy said. “But we put him in the water and it calmed him out a bit. He took to it right away.”

So they tried it again: “He would ride on my surfboard with me. Then we bought a tandem board. And he got on the front. He was three years old when he was surfing with me every day. We’d go way out there. Big days, small days, it did not matter. When we were out there, riding the waves, he was normal.”

“Being in the water, submersed, is therapeutic. Don‘t know why it works, but it just works.”

Izzy’s wife Danielle is the co-founder of Surfers Healing -- as well as his partner in the Paskowitz family surf camps they run all over the world.

It was her idea to take a whole group of Isiah’s developmentally disabled classmates to the water to teach them how to surf.

“It turned our son into a different kid when he was in the water,” said Danielle. “Had the exact same effect on all the kids.”

In 2013, 4500 autistic children went to their camps. All at no charge. Many of the counselors could form a Surfer’s Hall of Fame. All made possible by events like the one at the Strand at Headlands in Dana Point last week.

“Parents want to know if it is dangerous,” said Izzy. “I tell them it is,” he says with a smile. “This is extreme special ed.”

The kids love it.