Sport and physical activity: Facilitating interventions withyoung people living with an autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Young people living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have less access to sports and physicalactivity. Even when they do, the instructors do not always have the training to include them adequately.This study aimed to identify barriers that young people with ASD may face and strategies to overcomethese barriers. In order to meet the objectives of the study, semi-structured interviews were conductedwith young people, parents, and caregivers. Then, a qualitative analysis of the interviews has allowedthe identification of three types of barriers: related to ASD, related to the physical and socialenvironments, and related to the physical activity itself. Three categories of coping strategies have alsobeen identified by the participants. In order to help reduce the barriers, one should focus on the socialenvironment, the activity, and communication strategies. This study confirms previous research andshows that there are effective ways to intervene with young people living with ASD in order to optimizetheir integration in sports and physical activity and that it can be done with little resources.

Keywords

• sport
• autism spectrum disorder
• physical activity
• leisure