The Cerebra Innovation Centre (CIC) which is a collaborative team working to enhance the lives of children with neurological conditions have developed a seated-surfboard to let disabled children like Kai Lewis (pictured) ride the waves and safely surf.
Thirteen year old Kai from Port Talbot who was diagnosed with cerebral palsey following a stroke when he was just 12 months old tested out the new device at Langennith beach on Gower. The board is balanced to allow children to sit in a bucket seat while riding the waves with a trained surfer on the back.
Proud mum Leanne Lewis said: “With this now, he can sit back, relax, and ride the wave. The first he caught was the biggest he has ever caught, and my heart was in my mouth. It was amazing and it opens up so many options, not just for Kai, but for other children with disabilities.”
CIC is a collaborative project run between the national charity Cerebra and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). The project has been operational for 10 years. During that time the team have developed many bespoke products to aid the daily living challenges of children with a range of neurological conditions such as autism and cerebral palsy.
On the surfboard project CIC worked alongside Surfability UK and Roger Cooper Surfboards to develop and manufacture the tandem surf board with a supportive “bucket” seat that can be used by disabled children whilst being controlled by a trained surf instructor.
Dr Ross Head, Product Design Manager at CIC said: “The work that we do fills a crucial short fall in equipment that is available for children with these conditions, sometimes there simply is not a product out there that works for them. We are in a unique position to be able to be able to design and manufacture bespoke products to help their daily living challenges.”
“The first time Kai tested the surfboard went so well. We couldn’t have hoped for better surf conditions, weather, and great team of people with the desire to make this work. It was an amazing feeling to see Kai surf past shouting with joy.”
