In 2014, two women saw a video that broke their hearts. Teens had bullied a boy with autism online, humiliating him in front of the world. Instead of just feeling upset, they decided to act. Both loved skateboarding and had nonprofit experience, so they combined the two to create SkateMD, a skateboarding program for kids with physical, developmental, and emotional challenges. Their goal was to give kids confidence, joy, and a safe place to be themselves.
Learning Through Motion: Deven’s Story
Take 5-year-old Deven, for example. He was born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that can slow physical and mental development, making balance, coordination, and motor skills harder to learn. On a cool spring morning at a Sacramento skate park, Deven stepped onto a skateboard for the first time at a SkateMD clinic designed to help children like him.
With a helmet, brace on his recently broken wrist, and guidance from volunteers, he slid down a curb and onto a small rail, grinning from ear to ear. For a moment, the fear, frustration, and challenges he faces every day melted away. The wind on his face, the thrill of motion, it was pure freedom.
Many children with developmental differences, including autism, face challenges like difficulty communicating, heightened anxiety, and trouble navigating social situations. In the U.S., about 1 in 36 children is diagnosed with autism. Research shows that autistic children are at higher risk for bullying, social exclusion, and low self-esteem. For parents, this can be heartbreaking. Programs like SkateMD create a safe, encouraging space where kids can feel capable, included, and celebrated for their own achievements.
Why Skateboarding Works
Skateboarding may seem intimidating, fast, noisy, and balance-intensive. But it is also a very liberating sport. There is no aspect of keeping up, no demanding rules to follow like in team sports. The kids may go at their own speed, but are helped in their endeavors by volunteers called skate buddies.
These volunteers help the kids balance, push them, or catch them at times. Small accomplishments of rolling across the park, balancing on a rail, and learning the very simplest of tricks become the exciting feelings of confidence and joy.
Over the years, SkateMD has helped dozens of children discover new strengths. Some children with mobility challenges learn to skate sitting down, using upper-body strength to propel themselves. Others, like kids on the autism spectrum, experience the rare joy of fully controlling their movements and earning positive recognition from peers and mentors. The applause, encouragement, and shared smiles can linger long after the wheels stop rolling, boosting self-esteem and calming anxiety.
Beyond the Skatepark: Confidence for Life
For parents and adults in the program, witnessing the change is priceless. “We thought we were the givers,” admits one of the founders. “But the joy that comes back to us is immeasurable.” SkateMD not only teaches skills on a skateboard.
It is teaching kids to believe in themselves, to take risks, and to feel free in their bodies and minds. In a world that can sometimes be harsh, where difference is met with fear or bullying, programs like this serve to remind us that compassion and patience, combined with support, can help unlock the doors to confidence and happiness —and sometimes the thrill of a skateboard ride.
Supporting the Journey in Sacramento
At Sacramento ABA Therapy, we are committed to helping children who have speech or hearing needs and assisting their families and friends.
Every experience can be a stepping stone to help children develop, grow, and find their own voice. Start your enrollment forms today or contact our office for more information about our services.
