The purpose of the diploma work is to show the importance of physical activity for children with disorders of the autistic spectrum. Introduce swimming, which is only one of the options that has a positive effect on the physical, motor and psychological development of children with autism spectrum disorders.
Children with autism spectrum disorders have a triad of deficits in communication, behavior and socialization. We studied socialization in more detail, then the rest of deficits. Socialization is one of the main factors in distinguishing autistic children from those with other developmental disorders. There is also an unwritten rule that each of them is different. Many people avoid social contacts, they have deviations in mutual emotional and social relationships. Some have resistance to change and are accustomed to routines, but other changes do not disturb. The aim was to present aspects, or the possibilities of social inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorders, and to present their positive effects.
We focused on the period of childhood to adolescence of children with autism spectrum disorders involved in swimming courses at one of the Ljubljana swimming schools. Based on practical examples, we could summarize some facts about aspects of the integration of these children into swimming groups.
There is not much research on the integration of children with MAS in sports. Existing research relates primarily to the school system and not to outside school sporting activities. Nevertheless, based on foreign literature and examples from practice in the diploma work, we found that we can include children in swimming groups completely independently or with the help of an assistant. In any case, integration has a positive impact on the social development of a child with MAS.
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