Watch: Kitty and Bunny's confidence has grown after taking part in the program
An important exercise program co-designed by children, parents/carers and exercise physiologists is helping children on the autism spectrum become more active.
For program participants Kitty (10) and Bunny (8) and their mum Carolyn, the experience has been an overwhelmingly positive – one they hope lays a foundation for future participation and enjoyment.
Mum Carolyn explained that she tried a variety of different sports and programs over the years with the girls, but had almost given up.
“What I hope is that the ethos and understanding that the team has shown in here can shift the paradigm in the outside world for kids like mine,” Carolyn said.
“I’m super proud of the kids for the resilience they’ve shown and their willingness to give it a go.
“It’s been great to see them build their physical confidence and also to get back in touch with sport and I’ve found they’re more willing to go out and try new things.”
The program is led by Associate Professor Timothy Fairchild and a multidisciplinary team at Murdoch University, funded by The Hospital Research Foundation Group via a Telethon grant.
Less than a quarter of Australian children and adolescents meet recommended levels of physical activity and despite the known benefits of exercise participation rates for autistic children are even lower.
Prof Fairchild said the traditional spaces for physical activity like playgrounds or sports environments are loud and unpredictable, potentially overwhelming for autistic children. This program is designed to create safe, personalised activities that are designed to build a foundation for better physical and social skills that they hope will last into adolescence and adulthood.
The collaborative approach adopted by this initiative catered to each child’s specific needs, with a focus on gross motor skills, strength, endurance and more, and has so far delivered some amazing results for participants.
