Overcoming fears related to water or waves helps build self-esteem, especially in children who may often feel limited by their surroundings.
Samuel Lara normally resists new sounds, textures and tastes. The nine-year-old, diagnosed with Down syndrome and autism, might get distressed in noisy crowds or around unfamiliar faces. So, his parents are careful about exposing him to anything that might push him out of his comfort zone.
“I don’t want to hinder him or have him regress,” his mother, Melissa Lara said. The family lives in California in the United States.
