KENNEBUNK — Ben Battis clutched his surfboard, waiting for the right wave to come along and take him back to shore. As a swell formed behind him, heading toward its inevitable crash against the white sands of Kennebunk Beach, Battis let the force of it sweep him away. Starting on his stomach, he summoned up his courage and willed himself to stand, however briefly, and managed to keep his balance for a few precious seconds before tumbling back into the waters of the Atlantic.

When he emerged, a smile creased the corners of his upturned face. His mother, Samantha, cheered him on from the beach. 

It was more than a trivial accomplishment. Battis has autism, and his mother, standing nervously by the tide line, was overcome with emotion.

Forty-three other children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome joined Battis on their surfboards Tuesday evening as part of a free surf clinic sponsored by Aquaholics of Kennebunk. For four years now, the surf shop has offered the clinics as a way for children with this developmental disability to find an outlet and, hopefully, a way to connect with others.

Samantha Battis, who lives in New Hampshire but has been attending the clinics in Kennebunk with Ben for over a year now, marveled at what the clinics have done for him.

“We started surfing a year ago, and haven’t stopped since,” she said. “He did so well with it that it’s now a part of his school program.”

Ben’s autism, like that of so many others, prevents him from being able to form connections with other people. Those with autism oftentimes demonstrate a high level of creative intelligence, but are locked inside their own worlds. In Ben, this has resulted in behavioral problems ”“ he has lashed out at Samantha and at others ”“ but those don’t manifest when he’s surfing.

His mother claims that the clinics have helped to bring him out of his shell, allowing him an outlet to bond with others and feel that he is part of the world around him.

“We don’t go to birthday parties,” said Samantha Battis. “We don’t go to playgrounds. But we can come here.”

Nanci Boutet, owner of Aquaholics, started the free clinics ”“ which are held every third Tuesday in June, July, and August ”“ because she was looking to become involved in a special interest. The clinics have been a success, she said, and have grown in size over the past four years, partly because they are free and partly because they work. Boutet said that the positive effect on the participants has been immeasurable.

“They have a really hard time with focus, these kids, and this requires all of their attention,” said Boutet. “This gives them a chance to interact.”

Boutet got the idea for the clinics from her friend, Maureen Dow, who has worked as a coordinator for the Autism Society of Maine for the past eight years. Dow had read about a similar program that was showing positive results in California, but to her knowledge, nothing like this has ever been attempted on the East coast.

“It’s the only program in the Northeast that does something like this,” said Dow. “Just the idea that these kids can do this, and now they can go do it with their friends, is wonderful.”

Wearing wetsuits to protect themselves against chilly waters, surf instructors from Aquaholics and volunteers brought children out into the waves, giving them pointers and offering encouragement as they rocked and swayed their way back to shore. With 44 children in the group and at least as many instructors, Kennebunk Beach swarmed with surfboards and smiles, and more than a few adults came to monitor the childrens’ progress.

One of them, Stephanie Reehl, is a teacher at the John F. Kennedy School in Biddeford. She watched with keen interest on Tuesday.

“Two of the little boys were former students of mine,” she said. “They’re doing awesome. It’s great to watch them.”

Experienced in the instruction and tutelage of special needs children, Reehl said the clinics have a been a big help to them developmentally, as their relationships with the volunteers help them to foster similar bonds with people in other areas of their lives.

“They don’t have any boundaries on them, any restrictions,” said Reehl. “They’re free to be themselves.”

Dow said the clinics have been an overwhelming success, with interest and attendance increasing every year. The clinics will be held against next year, although with so much interest, there will likely be a waiting list.

“We never imagined this,” said Dow. “Not in a million years. It’s all about showing them the sky’s the limit.”

  — Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319, or at jlagasse@journaltribune.com.