Unique Initiatives in Adapted Physical Education for Students Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Gil is a special school for 100 students who are diagnosed with ASD aged 12 to 21. They learn in classes according to their age and their function level: low, medium and high function. Students with ASD have noticeably abnormal or impaired development in social interaction and communication and a restricted repertoire of activity and interests. Abnormalities in the development of cognitive skills, sensory modulation, posture and body movements may be present. Helping students to achieve their highest potential in physical education requires both an understanding of ASD and its characteristics, and the elements of successful program planning required to address them.

The main objectives of physical education-specific initiatives are to enable students to be physically active as much as possible in order to increase their strength, flexibility, balance, co-ordination and to improve their motor skills. Also the activities are built in a way for developing social collaboration when working in pairs or in groups in order to enhance social ties.

In the workshop, the following initiatives will be displayed by applying a sample of the activities with the audience and by showing a movie of the programs.

Unique Movement Courses: The movement course is a closed skill with a definite mark for beginning and finishing the routine. In the course we combine auxiliary devices such as box jumps, rope hoops, benches and ladders which enable the students to climb up and over obstacles and thus improve the development of flexibility, power, balance, coordination and motor skills with success while they are concentrating In the activity without getting lost in the room.

Adapted Fitness Room: To ensure security a safe environment during exercises for the students with ASD, adapted devices have been developed such as tying ropes around their body and the treadmill, hiding operating buttons and speed that interfere with students staying on task. Also, we accompany each student activity on a device. For elevating the students` motivation we play music.

`Snuzelen` Stimulus in the Gym: Applying creative lessons by combining lights in a dark room and exercise in the dark. Activities in a darkroom with colorful lights is a helpful way that focuses the students, makes them curious, raises their enthusiasm so they can sustain the activity.

Swimming Pool in the Playground: The pool is built by using a parachute, benches and water. An improvised pool in the playground has many of the benefits of a regular pool. The students splash around in the water during the hot summer days and in that way the school also saves money.