Solutions
With regard to the social environment, awareness and strategies to circumvent the difficulties are the main ones. Indeed, awareness must not only be raised among caregivers and peers, it must also be raised among all those who revolve around the young person, so that everyone learns how to live together. Communication between the parent and the caregiver is essential. By taking into account the young person with ASD’s interests, sensory and motor particularities as well as their abilities, it becomes much easier to integrate them.  Finally, a good way to reduce barriers is to develop communication strategies that allow the explanation of the physical activity to the young person with ASD in order for them to better understand it.
Communication strategies that can optimize young people with ASD’s participation in sport and physical activity.
Communication strategies Examples
Grab their attention Name the young person Make sure there is visual contact, if possible Limit ambient noise Support the message with gestures, mimes
Adapt the message, instructions, and Teaching Give less information Give one instruction at a time Use concrete, known vocabulary Speak more slowly Show an example of what to do Avoid long explanations Give concrete examples Adopt a routine
Make sure the young person understands what is being said Give them time to understand and answer the questions Allow them to repeat what was said Ask questions in order to make sure they understood Reword explanations and teachings Be redundant, repeat, and reword if needed Use visual cues (gestures, writings, drawings, pictograms) Let the young people express themselves Make visual support available Encourage the young people to make gestures when saying something Make sure you understand them by rewording Encourage all efforts and attempts