Almost 150 autistic New Jersey children took to the waves in Long Branch Sunday to get away from the troubles of their condition.

Champion surfer Izzy Paskowitz, whose son was diagnosed with autism, runs the non-profit Surfer?s Healing. Paskowitz says surfing is a way for autistic children to realize what they can accomplish. Paskowitz says the program is also healing for parents.

New Jersey has one of the highest rates of autism in the country.