Getting Over Hurdles – Reducing Barriers for Autistic People to Access the Benefits of Physical Activity

Exercise and physical activity have numerous benefits for autistic individuals. It builds strength, stability and motor planning skills, all of which help a person perform daily living activities. Autistic people are more likely to experience health and mental health issues; engaging in physical activity reduces these risks and improves overall well-being.

Incorporating exercise, movement, and outdoor play can improve a wide range of skills and areas of functioning such as:

• Communication skills
• Social skills
• Cognitive functioning
• School readiness
• Academic/pre-academic abilities
• Adaptive/self-help
• Daily living skills
• Reducing anxiety and behavior of concern
• Motor skill development
• Self-regulation
• Better sleep patterns

A study of physical activity drivers in autistic individuals found that understanding the health benefits of physical activity was not a strong driver for autistic participants; they were more likely to engage and remain engaged through intrinsic motives such as enjoyment and fulfilment. Being in physically active environments was also important. Participants who experienced physical activity as the ‘norm’ were more likely to engage in physical activity behaviors themselves.

Having autonomy and choice was another important theme that emerged from this study. Autistic participants described internalized and intrinsically motivating drivers of physical activity such as experiencing fun, enjoyment, self-determination, and a sense of competence. Having this sense of autonomy and choice did not come via traditional physical activity routes such as attending a gym or a physical education class, but rather from solo activities that appealed to specific autistic needs such as sensory.

Aspect Australia collected data from an online survey of 272 autistic people and found that 74% of autistic children would like to participate more in sport and physical activities than they currently are; 69% of autistic adults felt the same way. Some of the physical activities people participated in were swimming, dancing, soccer, gym/gymnastics, netball, basketball, martial arts, and running/jogging/walking.

What are some of the barriers that autistic people have with exercise and sports?

There are a number of barriers autistic people face in exercise and sports. Here are a few of them:

1. Communication differences – difficulty following and understanding instructions, understanding rules of the game, talking to coaches and teammates, literal interpretation of instructions.
2. Sensory differences – loud noises, uncomfortable uniforms, close proximity to teammates. Physical education classes are often noisy, fast-paced, and crowded.
3. Lack of awareness and understanding of autism – not understanding autistic neurology, sensory needs, processing time, need for structure and predictability.
4. Physical difficulties – poor coordination, hard to master skills, movement differences, gross and fine motor challenges.
5. Feeling excluded or left out – not understanding the social aspect of team sports, no adaptations made, bullying.

How can we make exercise and sports more accessible for autistic people?

1. Start with little steps to get moving – If a person hasn’t been physically active, start with small things like walking the dog, walking to the corner store or library, shooting some hoops at the local park, or taking 5 minute body breaks throughout the day such as bouncing on a trampoline, running on the spot, or getting on a stationary bike.
2. Build physical literacy – A person will have more success with physical activity if they have some of the prerequisite skills. Physical literacy can be practiced through a series of simple exercises that only take minutes to do. These can include jumping, skipping, hopping and throwing.
3. Use visual supports – Drawings or pictures support physical instruction. Hand over hand demonstrations can work as well. Physical positioning with guidance from an instructor can help with muscle memory and teach how things feel physically. Use visual supports to show the instruction breakdown of a lesson, the sequence of a particular skill, procedures (putting on hockey equipment), and assigning time for physical activity in the daily schedule.
4. Start with individual instruction – When trying a new sport, it may be helpful to start with private lessons for one on one attention. A private instructor can pace the instruction based on need.
5. Offer breaks/quiet spaces – Offer regular breaks and a quiet space to regroup, especially if a person is feeling overwhelmed and needs time to self-regulate and regain control. Learning something new can feel exhausting and frustrating because of the time and focus it takes to master a skill.
6. Make adaptations – Break complex motor skills into small tasks and teach them step-by-step. Adjust the rules. Go at a slower pace.
7. Provide movement opportunities throughout the day – Physical activity doesn’t have to happen in long sessions. Ten minutes of stretching, a few minutes pedaling a bike, jumping jacks, or a short walk can reduce anxiety and help with regulation.
8. Try a variety of activities – As highlighted earlier in the study of physical activity drivers in autistic individuals, pleasure and enjoyment are motivating. My adult son enjoys horseback riding, hiking, sailing, bowling, golf, swimming, fitness classes and yoga. My adult daughter loves curling, bowling, swimming, golf, biking, boxing, and Wii Fit workouts.

How can we create an inclusive culture in physical activity?

Aspect Australia found that creating a more inclusive sport culture can be achieved through improved understanding and attitudes, along with reviewing club policies to mitigate accessibility issues. Their top recommendations to making physical activities more inclusive are:

• Work with sporting organizations to provide autism training and resources to improve staff/volunteer knowledge, skills and inclusive practice.
• Partner with sporting bodies to pilot flexible program options including non-competitive streams, mixed age groups, sensory-friendly uniforms.
• Advocate for sporting organizations to allow support persons to accompany autistic participants to training and games.
• Develop guidelines and resources to assist sporting organizations in addressing barriers like communication differences and anxiety.
• Promote stories of autistic sporting participation to build community awareness and tackle stigma.
• Facilitate opportunities for autistic community input into program design. Showcase examples of inclusive physical activity programs that are working well.

What Has Worked for My Family

Through trial and error and internet research, we have been able to find great physical activity support for both of my adult autistic children. Our city has a low income card that allows for affordable access to all parks and recreational programs. My children participate in yoga, adapted fitness, swimming and Aquacize classes for just over $2.00 per visit. Their support aides can attend for free to assist them.

My son needs a purpose when he walks or hikes. This can be seeing a beloved paddler wheeler on the reservoir, a train in the distance of a nearby theme park, determining the route of a hike, or being in the lead and setting the walking pace.

Both kids need structure and routine. In their adapted fitness class, each has a binder with a specific list of exercises for them. They stick with this plan and want it to be the same every session to give them predictability.

My daughter can’t cope with being in a group so she only has private instruction. She has excelled in curling working with an excellent instructor who makes incremental challenges to increase her skill level.

There are lots of ways to get moving and it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. For more ideas on how get children moving, visit the Active for Life website. Livestrong also has exercise videos for autistic people. Working physical activity into the daily routine will benefit a person for their lifetime. Advocate for accommodations in physical activity to make participation accessible for everyone.

Resources

‘‘Just Invite Us’’: Autistic Adults’ Recommendations for Developing More Accessible Physical Activity Opportunities

Infographic._Communicate_physical activity guidelines for disabled children and disabled young people

Positive effects of physical activity in autism spectrum disorder: how influences behavior, metabolic disorder and gut microbiota

Tips and Tricks to Be Physically Active – Autism Ontario

5 Important Exercises for Autistic Kids – Healthline

References

(March 22, 2024). Physical activity for Autistic people: The benefits and barriers. Aspect

Edwards, C., Tutton, T., & Gibbs, V. (2024). Organized physical activity participation among autistic Australians: Barriers, enablers and implications for inclusion. Neurodiversity.

Parsons, K. et al. (2024) A qualitative study of physical activity drivers in autistic individuals using COM-B. Autistic and non-autistic perspectives. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Volume 111

Sarris, M. (2024). The Challenge of Physical Fitness for Autistic People. Spark