As a parent, nothing compares to the joy of seeing your child happy, healthy, and thriving. It’s an even more special experience when your child is living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and you witness them overcoming challenges, embracing their abilities, and gaining confidence through physical activity. At Mobius, we’ve seen first-hand how the right approach to exercise and sports can be a game-changer.

Imagine a high school student with ASD, who is having a tough time participating in physical education classes. Understandably, this situation can lead to frustration and discouragement from physical activity and peer social opportunities. But a collaborative effort between the parents, the school’s sports teacher, and an Exercise Physiologist could lead to a remarkable change.

By involving an Exercise Physiologist, the parents and the school’s sports teacher could plan ahead for the specific physical activities of the upcoming term. This insight would be invaluable as it would help design a customised training program to prepare the student for these activities. Tailored exercises could then help the student improve the specific physical skills and attributes needed for each sport. This preparation not only aids in more effective participation in the PE classes but also boosts self-confidence and overall enjoyment of sports and fitness.

At Mobius, we welcome children with ASD ranging from ages 6 to 18, and we emphasise the importance of finding a sport/physical activity that the child genuinely enjoys. We believe that a positive relationship with physical activity can be cultivated when the exercise aligns with the child’s interest. From bodyweight-focused activities such as athletics and gymnastics to sports that enhance hand-eye/foot-eye coordination, or even just taking an interest in the gym!

As Exercise Physiologists, our understanding of sports and strength & conditioning goes beyond the generic. Each sport comes with its unique set of demands and skillsets. Our team’s expertise lies in our ability to break down these requirements, whether it’s a sport we’ve personally played or not. We tailor our training programs to help children with ASD build strength and capacity to meet these demands and improve their individual skills. The end result is not just about better performance in the sport; it’s also about better physical literacy, mental health, and an improved sense of self-worth and accomplishment.

Another essential aspect to note is that our services can be funded under an NDIS plan. The categories applicable for this are “Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living” and “Capacity Building – Improved Health and Wellbeing”.

So, if your child is living with ASD and struggling with physical education classes or wants to improve their sporting skills, consider the help of an Exercise Physiologist. Together, we can make the journey of sporting development an enjoyable and rewarding experience for your child.