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

Young people living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have less access to sports and physical activity. 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 overcome these barriers. In order to meet the objectives of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with young people, parents, and caregivers. Then, a qualitative analysis of the interviews has allowed the identification of three types of barriers: related to ASD, related to the physical and social environments, and related to the physical activity itself. Three categories of coping strategies have also been identified by the participants. In order to help reduce the barriers, one should focus on the social environment, the activity, and communication strategies. This study confirms previous research and shows that there are effective ways to intervene with young people living with ASD in order to optimize their integration in sports and physical activity and that it can be done with little resources.