Olivia Watson-Parris (10) swam through the swelling ocean with a young girl with autism who she was paired with for the Bridge to the Beach program. The shores of Mission Beach seemed as far as the horizon, and the two paddled in the waves of the vast sea. A glance of worry emerged in Watson-Parris’ eyes, as their feet were far from the deep sea floor. But it was merely seconds after she saw the child’s face that a smile spread on hers. That joyful, fearless grin from the child was all she needed to realize that her goal, slowly but surely, was being accomplished: to make the children feel safe, confident, and understood.
Watson-Parris joined the Bridge to the Beach volunteer program to help build a safe environment for children with autism at the beach. Autism Tree, an organization based in San Diego dedicated to connecting and supporting autism and neurodivergent communities, partners with the San Diego Junior Lifeguards and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department annually to provide opportunities and resources for their participants at the beach.
Watson-Parris discovered this opportunity after participating in the San Diego Junior Lifeguard program as a camper in early August. She said that the chance to get to know the children who might be easily misunderstood was what motivated her to join the program.
“I really like working with children, and I thought that it would be quite fun,” Watson-Parris said. “I just wanted to understand how they see the world. I knew that there were going to be challenges, but my dad also worked with autistic children when he was younger. [He] told me how rewarding it can be even if it’s sometimes hard, and that inspired me.”
The supportive and warm atmosphere of the beach was always filled with smiles and splashes of ocean water. Watson-Parris said that while the program partnered with lifeguards, helping the kids stay safe on the beach was not the only objective of the program.
“It’s not all about being safe,” Watson-Parris said “I think it’s about enjoying [the beach], and it’s about knowing that you’re safe so that you can enjoy it. We taught them what being safe feels like to help them feel confident.”
Part of helping the kids feel comfortable in the water was forming a trusting bond with them beforehand. During this week-long program, Watson-Parris was buddied up with an 8 year-old girl. They enjoyed various beach activities together such as paddleboarding, building sand castles, swimming, and more.
Watson-Parris said that a particular moment she shared with the children gave her a deeper personal understanding of them.
“I was with [my] buddy’s little sister, [and] she was getting really frustrated,” she said. “She was throwing sand and water, and [something] just clicked. I realized that it must be so hard not to be understood because she was getting frustrated, [and] her mom didn’t understand what she was asking for. I realized that it must be so frustrating not to be able to communicate properly, and how privileged I am to be able to communicate and be understood. ”
As a response, Watson-Parris said she tried her best to comfort and communicate with the little sister.
“I told the sister that it’s ok, and that we understand. Then we tried harder to understand what she was saying, and showed our efforts.”
Despite the challenges she faced on the way, Watson-Parris said she felt that she and her buddy had formed a genuine connection by the end of the program.
“I really did become friends and the child really looked up to me,” Watson-Parris said. “She would bring me little gifts, and she drew me pictures of us together. I was surprised [and] touched. It was a really good experience, both for her and me.”
Watson-Parris said that Bridge to the Beach made her feel like a part of a close community of heartfelt connections.
“The whole program is amazing,” Watson-Parris said. “It’s just beneficial for everyone. The volunteers get better opportunities for jobs, and they get a better understanding of these children. It’s really a heartwarming experience, but it also [helps] the families of the autistic child. I could see everyone was smiling. [We] were building a community. The charity has other events, and a lot of these people go to all of them. I think it’s beneficial, especially this one, because it’s teaching kids to be safe in the water but also enjoy it and have a good experience with it.”
