Development of motor abilities among pupils with autism spectrum disorders during summer vacation

Motnje avtističnega spektra so skupina razvojnih motenj, ki trajajo vse življenje in posameznika prizadenejo na najpomembnejših področjih njegovega delovanja. Težave prizadenejo nevrološko področje, zaradi česar se pojavijo tudi motnje zaznave telesnega položaja. Ti otroci se velikokrat ne udeležujejo športnih dejavnosti. V teoretičnem delu magistrskega dela smo poudarili pomen gibanja za otroka, opisovali smo pristope pri delu z otroki z motnjami avtističnega spektra ter preko domače in tuje literature zapisali, kakšne so značilnosti in primanjkljaji omenjene populacije na področju gibanja. Dotaknili smo se prilagojene gibalne dejavnosti in opisali dva načina preverjanja gibalnih sposobnosti – s športnovzgojnim kartonom in z vprašalnikom ABC gibanja 2. Za namen raziskave smo izbrali vzorec petih dečkov z motnjami avtističnega spektra, starih od 8 do 12 let, ki obiskujejo prilagojen izobraževalni program z nižjim izobrazbenim standardom. Njihovo gibalno kompetentnost so ocenili starši in strokovni delavci, mi pa smo gibalne sposobnosti preverili s pomočjo športnovzgojnega kartona. Glavni namen je bil priprava gibalnega programa, s katerim smo ugotavljali, ali nam je v času poletnih počitnic uspelo izboljšati gibalne sposobnosti izbrane skupine učencev. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali, da so gibalne sposobnosti vseh petih vključenih učencev, na začetnem testiranju s športnovzgojnim kartonom, podpovprečne v primerjavi s populacijo sovrstnikov v Sloveniji. Starši in strokovni delavci so pri vseh dečkih zaznali prisotnost gibalnih težav. Pri štirih dečkih nam je z izvajanjem gibalnega programa uspelo izboljšati njihove gibalne sposobnosti. Redno gibanje, tudi v času počitnic, lahko otrokom z motnjami avtističnega spektra pomaga do boljšega počutja in lažjega vključevanja v socialno okolje ob začetku novega šolskega leta.Autism spectrum disorders are a group of development disorders that last for whole life and affect individual in the most important areas of their functioning. Problems affect neurological area resulting in disorders of perception of the body position. Often, these children do not participate in sports activities – the reason is social isolation, reduced communication skills, poor eye contact, and stereotype motor functions. In the theoretical part of the graduation thesis, we highlighted the importance of physical activity for a childwe have described approaches in working with children with autism spectrum disorders. Through domestic and foreign literature, we have presented characteristics and deficiencies of the mentioned population in the area of physical activity. We have mentioned adapted physical activity and described two ways of assessment of motor skills – sports and educational records and questionnaire of ABC of movement 2. For the purpose of the survey, we have chosen a sample of five boys with autism spectrum disorders, aged from 8 to 12 years, who attend an adapted educational program with a lower educational standard. Parents and professional workers assessed their motor competence, and we have evaluated motor skills using sports and educational records. The main purpose was to prepare physical activity program based on which we have determined whether we have managed to raise the level of motor skills of the chosen group of students during summer holiday. The results of the survey revealed that motor skills of all five participating students are below average in the initial testing for sport and educational record compared to peer population in Slovenia. Parents and professional workers detected presence of motor problems in all five boys. In four boys, we managed to improve motor skills by implementing physical activity program. Regular movement, also during summer holidays, can enable children with autism spectrum disorders to obtain better well-being and easier inclusion to the social environment at the beginning of new school year