Organised sport is a great way to get fitter, improve mental health and find social connections, but when you are one of the 1 in 40 Australians who are Autistic it can be difficult to navigate. If you are an activity organiser or coach, it’s likely that neurodivergent people will be a part of your sport. So how can we make their experience a positive one?

In a study by the Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP) in 2024, it was found that 74% of Autistic children and 69% of Autistic adults would like to participate in more organised physical activities than they currently were. The research identified many barriers including a lack of training for coaches. 

“I think one issue is that many coaches are volunteers and try their best, but they have never received any training or been given any support in how to adapt what they do to make it more inclusive” said Aspect Executive Manager Tom Tutton.

Common challenges include issues like anxiety and physical difficulties, difficulties in communicating with non-autistic people, and broader societal issues such as a lack of inclusive opportunities and insufficient awareness about autism. These barriers can exacerbate anxiety and may ultimately lead to the individual withdrawing from the sport entirely. 

“When sports organisations engage with players or their parents to discuss the player's needs for feeling comfortable and included, especially if the player is Autistic, they should focus on understanding and respecting each player’s unique sensory and access needs. This involves addressing potential sensory sensitivities, physical challenges, and creating supportive environments that facilitate easier participation,” said Dr Chris Edwards of ARCAP.

“The goal is to make sure everyone can join in safely and enjoyably, which might mean making some changes to the activities, the place where they happen, or the equipment used. These talks are about working together to find the best ways to help every player have a good time and feel included. They also might discuss how the organisation is prepared to support players with different needs, including training their staff to be more understanding and accommodating.”

 

Junior rugby players practice their passing skills with the ball

Lucy Steen has three boys that she encourages to get active and social through sport and believes that coaches have the most important role to play when it comes to including every player and working to their strengths.

“I let the coach know that my middle son, James , is Autistic, and the coach asked me what he could do to accommodate him. I told him that James going to find some things difficult, and he may find some situations stressful and get anxious. Let him have a calm moment, be encouraging, be supportive of him.

“He’s not good at running but he had a strong build so they made him front rower and gave him clear instructions in a way so he could understand. The coach was great and made him feel really included and doesn’t get tied up in winning. He builds the boys up and gives them all a place. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and everyone can have a role in that game,” said Lucy.

Sport for Lucy’s family has been a positive experience, but there was one instance when her eldest son, Isaac, was bullied by other boys on the team. “Once we knew what was happening, my husband wrote a firm but kind letter advocating for Isaac and emailed it to the team manager and the coach; they were parent volunteers as well,” Lucy said. 

“The parents’ responses were awesome. The boys involved were pulled aside, away from Isaac so he wasn’t embarrassed, and had a chat to explain what it is to be a team player. 

“It teaches young boys that this bullying behaviour isn’t acceptable. It’s not just sport, this toxic behaviour isn’t acceptable anywhere, and sport can be a great place to learn those skills.”

For parents of neurodivergent kids, Lucy shared that it’s important to be clear and advocate for your child upfront. “It doesn’t matter what the sport is, as long as they’re active and having fun and feeling supported; don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations for them, and don’t accept any discrimination.”

Sports are taking this feedback on board but there’s always more to be done. 

Tom Tutton from Aspect said, “many organisations do this work really well in small pockets of practice but aren’t yet confident in claiming expertise or high quality broadly.” 

“Our passion is that inclusion occurs so that anyone of any ability can participate in a way that works for them and makes them happy – for many this might be a mainstream sporting activity and for others it might be a smaller and more supported occasion. 

“These more highly supported events can, for some people, be stepping stones to regular sport and activity. Some sports like social running, for example at parkrun, lend themselves more to broad inclusive activities whilst other sports that are more competitive, team based, et cetera, can benefit from more variety in offering.”

Aspect works with clubs to assist them in building guidelines for Autistic inclusion that fit the sport. “Guidelines are made specific to specific sports in partnership with key agencies and organisations within that sport – including Western Sydney Wanderers for soccer or Sydney Dance Company for dance – and developed via pilot programs where we work directly with Autistic people participating in sport,” said Tom.

“We teach people about a comprehensive framework of supports that include an explicit culture of welcome, sharing information ahead of time to support people to prepare for and predict what is going to happen, developing organised and well-structured activities, teaching skills step by step, sensory and communication adaptations and stress and challenge management. Every approach is taught using sport specific examples and teaching done with Autistic staff who share lived experience.”

Who is Aspect?

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is Australia’s largest autism-specific service provider, with one of the biggest autism-specific school programs in the world. A not-for-profit organisation, they work in partnership with people of all ages on the autism spectrum, and their families to deliver evidence-informed solutions that are person-centred, family-focused and customer driven.

What is Autism and neurodiversity?

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. Autistic people experience differences in the way they process information and interact with their environment compared to non-Autistic people. This means the way that Autistic people communicate, connect with others, and engage with aspects of day-to-day life are different to those of non-Autistic people.

Neurodiversity is a non-medical term that describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one “right” way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits. Neurodivergent people are not always autistic; the term neurodivergent can refer to people with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s, or mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder.  

Obstacles and enablers for neurodivergent participation

What are some obstacles?

  • Inflexible training programs: The one-size-fits-all approach to training often overlooks the diverse needs of Autistic individuals, leading to discomfort and disengagement.
  • Communication differences: Autistic individuals may have unique communication styles that are misunderstood or ignored in typical sporting environments.
  • Sensory sensitivities: Many Autistic people have heightened sensory experiences, making traditional sports settings overwhelming or painful.
  • Limited autism awareness: Insufficient education and training for coaches and staff about neurodiversity can result in a lack of appropriate support and inclusion.
  • Systemic exclusion and discrimination: Autistic individuals frequently encounter both direct and indirect exclusion from sports, whether through overt discrimination or systemic barriers that fail to accommodate their needs.

What are some enablers?

  • Predictable activities: Sharing information about training or competitions ahead of time can reduce anxiety and improve participation.
  • 1:1 coaching: Step-by-step instruction with a coach can help with understanding and help players feel included.
  • Sensory and access needs: Open, non-judgmental communication between players, parents, and coaches helps manage expectations and needs. This may include uniform modifications, training adjustments, and changes in how instructions are delivered.
  • Organisational support: Assisting with transportation, sign-ups, schedules, equipment readiness, and session reminders can aid participation.
  • Support person involvement: Allowing a parent or carer to be present during training or competition provides essential communication and support.

Adapted from Aspect Australia: https://www.aspect.org.au/about-autism/our-research/physical-activity 

Article originally published in Play by the Rules Magazine Issue 44, 2024