Waves of accomplishment

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“This one is super-special for me, being a teacher,” Salgado said. “There are all these challenges, and it all comes together and it works out when they’re smiling.”

“I really want them to feel what I feel,” added Allison’s husband, Nico, who is also a surfing instructor and volunteer. “When you see them smile, you know you did something.”

Students watched as their wheelchair basketball coach, Joe Slaninka, who has worked at the school for 21 years, surfed with an instructor. As Slaninka — who was born with spina bifida, an incomplete development of the spinal cord — lay on his stomach and paddled with his arms, the instructor kicked and paddled behind him, and helped him catch a wave. It was his first surfing experience, and he rode in wearing a huge smile.

“I’ve been disabled all my life, but there’s a lot to do out there,” Slaninka said. “I want to do it. Just because you’re disabled doesn’t mean you can’t do stuff. There is a way.”

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