By Cindy Adams

Jonny doesn’t take his cane on the surfboard.

Most days, he needs it. He wears a brace on his right leg, and his gait is sometimes unsteady, so the cane keeps him upright. But once a year, at Virginia Beach, he leaves it on the sand. He wades into the water and climbs onto a surfboard.

"My disability doesn't bother me when I’m surfing," he says with a smile.

Jonny also has limited use of his right arm and right hand, but none of it prohibits him from diving into adventure. He is an eager participant in an adaptive surfing program led by the nonprofit organization Life Rolls On which brings experiences like this to athletes with physical disabilities and mobility impairments. The volunteers assist with beach access, transfers and in-water support. Jonny is 42 years old and has surfed enough times now that it has become a much-anticipated tradition.

Jonny loves all things water, but this event is certainly at the top of his list. After registering, he watches the volunteers carry board after board down to the shore. When it’s finally his turn, there is no hesitation. Jonny heads straight for the water. On the board, he positions himself on his knees and anticipates the perfect wave. Unforgettable moments for everyone.

"It makes me feel really good that I am able to do something like that," Jonny said. "The volunteers hold the surfboard so I can get my balance. Then they stay on the surfboard behind me when the waves come. It feels great!"

At home, Jonny lives with his enCircle Family Care Provider, Brian, but he doesn't go on this trip because, as Jonny jokes, "he is too chicken." Instead, this tradition is shared with Jonny's parents, Lou and Charlotte, who are very proactive in finding ways for Jonny to live a full life. This surfing event was one of their many discoveries for their son.

"We want him to achieve what he wants to achieve," Jonny’s dad said.

And that's exactly what happens in the water. This year, the family made their way to Grommet Island Beach Park where a jetty a few dozen yards offshore breaks the surf into a steady line of beginner-friendly waves. Around 144 athletes took part, split into a dozen teams, each surfer paired with a crew of volunteers and a swimmer who helped keep the board ahead of the incoming water.

Out past the break, there’s no cane, no careful footing. Just the board under him, the salt air, the pull of a wave carrying him forward. For those few minutes, Jonny isn’t managing anything. He’s just riding with arms wide and a grin even wider. There’s nothing in his way!

At enCircle, being Person-Centered is one of our Guiding Principles. We place each individual’s needs, choices, and preferences at the heart of our work. Jonny knows best what he can do. And he’s doing it.