SPORT & AUTISM, A COLLECTIVE FOR INCLUSION

Social inclusion of people with autism spectrum disorders through sports play

The project "Sport and autism, a collective for inclusion" led by the Playlab aims to improve the quality of life and promote the social inclusion of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through physical activity and sports games.

In brief

Our objectives

Improving the quality of life and promoting social inclusion of children with ASD through physical activity and sports play.

Understanding and managing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an important public health issue. ASD was declared a major national cause by the government in 2012. The number of people diagnosed with ASD has been increasing, with INSERM* estimating that 1 in 100 are born with the disorder. The increase in its prevalence, mainly due to the evolution of the definition of autism and its criteria for diagnosis, is the reason why the care of individuals with this disability has become a national priority.

PLAY International believes that physical activity and sports games can be used as a tool to help build social, cognitive, sensory, motor and emotional skills for children with ASD. By creating an encouraging environment, linked to pleasure, physical activity helps to break the isolation of the child, notably by improving their communication skills and self-confidence, while stimulating their motor and intellectual capacities.

The project "Sport and autism, a collective for inclusion" aims to create socio-sports programmes and to evaluate their effects by co-developping a pedagogical approach for children with ASD with field workers (sports educators, psychomotricians, adapted physical activity teachers, etc.).

Impact

Key figures

3

years of research - action

40

partner structures

2

research laboratories involved in the project

tHE ACTION PLAN

1 - FIELD DIAGNOSIS

A database of the practices used in the field by professionals who accompany children with ASD will be carried out. In concrete terms, this means a quantitative study on a national scale and a qualitative study in Ile-de-France. A survey will be distributed online and about thirty interviews with professionals from the sports, school, medical-educational and health sectors will be organised. This first phase is also an opportunity to establish partnerships with professionals wishing to become involved in the project.

2 - CO-CREATION AND TESTING OF EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

The contents will be co-created by experts in sport didactics, researchers and experienced educational professionals within the partner structures. The objective is to study the effects of the sessions on children with ASD. Evaluations will be carried out to follow the evolution of their abilities and behaviours: before, during and after the sessions.

3- MODELLING AND DISSEMINATION OF THE APPROACH AND of the EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

Using the feedback of the professionals and the results from the experimentation, the created content will be modified and better adapted. The aim is to model the approach based on the experience gained.

The contents are intended to be disseminated throughout the nation with 40 partners being trained to disseminate the programme in their region.

THE APPROACH

ACTION-RESEACH

Action-research is a method that links actors in the field (associations, sports leaders and educators, school teachers, etc.) and the world of research (researchers in sociology, psychology, education, sport, etc.) in a collaborative approach at the service of the project carried out.

The close relationship that links different actors makes it possible to methodically study the entire project: the initial context, the implementation of the activities as well as their effects on the beneficiaries and their environment.
Action-research leads to the production of new knowledge and recommendations that allow for the creation of new models of action or the improvement of existing ones. The approach provides a response adapted to the specificities of each beneficiary group.