Autism Sports Education: Transforming Lives of Families

Abstract

It is very important to integrate individuals with autism into social life in order to minimize the effects of autism, which is a developmental problem that lasts for a long time and needs to be lived together and is increasing numerically every day. In this context, 14 parents of individuals with autism participated in the research conducted to determine the effect of the Sports Education Project for People with Autism (SEPA), which was carried out in cooperation with Gazi University, on the daily lives of autistic individuals and their families. In the research, the phenomenology design, which is among the qualitative research methods, was utilized. Using homogeneous sampling technique, focus group interviews were conducted with 14 parents who had been attending the SEPA for 4 months without interruption. In general, the participants found the impact of SEPA on their daily lives to be positive; in terms of parents, they stated that it allowed them to share problems with other parents and increase solidarity, thus allowing them to socialize, contributed positively to family interactions and made them feel happier. In terms of their children, they stated that they contributed positively to their physical and social development and that this situation facilitated their children's daily lives. The findings obtained support that projects such as the Children with Autism Education Project will contribute positively to the life processes of individuals with autism and their families. It is recommended that studies in this direction be expanded.