02/04/2024
2nd April - commonly referred to as World Autism Acceptance Day, a part of World Autism Acceptance Week (for more info see https://www.autism.org.uk).
Now, where do we start when it comes to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and having fair and equal access to fitness and exercise? 🫣🤔😪
People living with the symptoms of autism have been grossly undeserved by the fitness community for as long as ASD has been a recognisable *disorder.
Key symptoms of ASD present in some individuals as an 'inability' to identify social cues and differences in communication. Straight away, this makes group and team sport activities, appear like an insurmountable hurdle. How can you participate in a team event, when communicating your intentions and picking up on small, nuanced non-verbal communication, maybe isn't your forte?
We then look at the need for well-developed motor skills to participate in sporting events. This well-cited study (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25231287/ ) highlights how ASD can present as a lack of balance and co-ordination, there again, providing a challenge for most sporting activities.
So, let's just make sure that everyone living with the symptoms of autism just sit out, right? Clearly, exercise isn't going to work.
WRONG!
We embrace diversity and welcome individuals from all backgrounds. Whether you identify as autistic, neurodivergent, high-functioning or with any other neurological variation, our commitment is to eliminate barriers to participation and ensure everyone can enjoy the full inclusivity of movement with us. Yes, even in a group setting. Something the commonly accepted rule books of ASD pedagogy will tell you is not possible. We say, 'pffffft' and 'watch us'.
*terminology used with ASD, but not implied. People living with the symptoms of autism are far from disordered.
