Justin's Journey - A Family's Challenges with Autism and Finding a Connection Through Skateboarding

Synopsis: A short documentary about our family's challenges with autism and finding a common bond through the sport of skateboarding.
Getting behind and supporting our son's love for the sport has changed our lives forever.
In a time of feeling hopeless, we were inspired by people such as Izzy & Danielle Paskowitz who shared with the world their family's struggles in raising their son, Isaiah, who is on the autism spectrum, and how surfing changed their lives as a family.
Another source of inspiration was Crys Worley, the Founder of A.Skate, who has shared her son Sasha's struggles with autism, and how skateboarding has changed his life and those in the autism community through their skateboarding clinics the last 5 years.
It is because of the courage of people like them who exposed both the benefit of board sports as well as their family's vulnerabilities and struggles with raising a child on the spectrum that we chose to create this documentary and share Justin's Journey.
It is our hope that if our family's story can help even just one person or one family in this world it will be worth it.
Ultimately, the through line of this story is not about skateboarding, but finding hope through establishing a family connection through an activity that their child finds an interest or talent, and nurturing it.
It was been something that we desperately searched and wished for so many years until we found skateboarding.
Thank you for sharing "Justin's Journey" with us.
Please share this video with anyone whom you feel may be going through the same or similar experience as ours.
Continue to follow Justin's Journey with us on instagram @skating4satori
Special Thanks to:
UpperCloud Media
Johnny Neang
Erick Lee
The Official Brand
City of Sunnyvale
Wynn Nojopranoto
The Smallwood Family
The Locals at Sunnyvale & Lake Cunningham Skatepark
& the Skateboarding Community
#thankyouskateboarding
#skateboardingcanchangetheworld

[@kayarocioc.4703]

dam this made me cry. I am also autistic and before I started skateboarding I remember I had no confidence, no motivation, hard to communicate, and things were really hard for my family. This reminded me a lot of myself. And gosh, I'm so happy to hear Justin and the fam have found skating as a beautiful way to celebrate and grow together. truly made my day. also, my favorite skater is Andy Anderson he's the coolest dude Mullen too

[@SkateparkLessons]

Great video! WE LOVE YOU JUSTIN!💙🛹💙

[@skating4satori672]

Thanks for your ongoing support!!!

[@RikRiorik]

Tears. Happy tears.

[@skating4satori672]

Thanks for checking out the video and joining our Ohana on this journey.

[@ThomasRisser]

Inspiration, the family of skating continues to extend beyond barriers. Great story.

[@jhsjhsjhsjhs]

This is an incredibly moving story. I really look forward to the day I cross paths with you guys at the skatepark! Thank you for sharing this journey with the world.

[@maryploppins]

WOW I just watched this video and then the one from 1 week ago to see how much he's progressed in 6 years and it's really crazy, he's awesome now!! Keep up the great work Justin!! (Hi Pauline it's Rachael) ;)

[@skating4satori672]

thank you so much for watching!! and yes it has been a long journey but a happy one we will continue to march on. :) its so nice to hear from you!

[@cryptoforcouples3444]

So amazing!! Thank you for sharing your story. It inspires me so much 🫶

[@RegularJason]

Amazing video, thanks for sharing!! I feel like I've seen you at Lakewood way back in 2019 (I distinctly remember you having the Andy Anderson shaped deck). Hope to run into you at Sunnyvale or Milpitas some time!! 🤙

[@jimmyhuen1175]

I love watching your channel and Justin skate. You guys are inspiration. I have a 6 yr 9 month old autistic son that I am just teaching/showing to skateboard, and the kicker is that I've made up my mind to step on a skateboard myself for the first time in my life at the tender young age of 45 so that I can do it with him and help him along the way. I just taught him how to ride a bike and that's his favorite thing to do outside and I think skateboarding can take him even further. Thanks for sharing your story!

[@jonathankessler774]

Thank you for sharing Justin's story and how you all coped.

[@skating4satori672]

Thanks for watching!

[@ovehansen7111]

Beautiful video, let's hope there really is light at the end of this tunnel!

[@snigglepop]

Such an amazing story. When we can focus on our strengths, we become what we are meant to be in this world! So happy for the entire family.

[@giovannilaverde3700]

So inspirational. #Respect

[@bqbhhhh]

this made my day! what amazing supportive parents you are and a beautiful life you've made ! Can't wait to see Justin on the 9 club!

[@skatemdhealinghearts4912]

SkateMD is a nonprofit organization in Northern CA offering skateboard clinics for special population of children facing developmental, physical, emotional or family challenges. We would love to connect with you. Please visit our website for more information www.skatemdhh.com or email us directly at [e-mail] ❤️❤️❤️❤️ We love to see others sharing in the love of skateboarding and kindness!

[@jurhiahautismsports2332]

Absolutely love this ... I am sharing this same journey right now with my 7 yr old with Autism through BMX and Skateboarding.

[@sowasun]

Thank you Arnold-san for sharing the beautiful story. This is just awesome and I am happy to hear that you and Pauline found the best communication way and strong connection with Justin. I would love to see his skating sometimes...seriously!

[@tradewinds2319]

Mad respect

[@KobiHudson]

Amazing!!

[@skating4satori672]

Thanks!!

[@nollieheel]

Respect! Well done video as well!

[@dasrobasu]

Beautiful family, really inspiring. Hope to see more in future...

[@bobbyparson9229]

Well done video. Great Parents and a Beautiful Family. Keep the vids coming. Thx.

[@elpadre4202]

Watching your son bomb the full pipe at the end of the video was so cool. Rad parents. Keep shredding!

[@skating4satori672]

Thanks for checking out our family's story!

[@riverhuhn8607]

I was the 200 subscriber

[@hitmankiller123]

I think that so awesome!! you never know what life will throw at you it’s a wonderful story of a young boy and a board and how it changed your life’s!!, I follow you on instagram under a different name and he’s getting so good 😊 I wish you guys all the best 👍

[@Hiryu45]

Hi Arnold, What a wonderful story about a difficult issue, I admire your and Pauline's persistence. I love watching your skate videos with your son!! Hope to see you soon. -Rich

[@RaulMeatFactory1975]

All you need now is to get Mum rolling.