Physical education teachers' sport recommendations for high school students with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display a wide variety of cognitive, behavioral, physical/motor, and social abilities that often require some level of support in their education, including physical education (PE) and sport participation. Sport participation can afford students with ASD much needed opportunities for development of physical and social skills. This study examined PE teachers' sport recommendations for two hypothetical high school students with different functioning levels of ASD (high and low). An online survey was completed by general and adapted PE teachers across the U.S. A total of 277 (APE= 152, GPE = 125) responses were used for statistical analyses. Results revealed that PE teachers recommend individual over team sports for both high and low functioning students with ASD. There were no sport recommendation differences between adapted and general PE teachers. Also, there were no differences in sport recommendations between high and low functioning levels of ASD. It was most recommended that high and low functioning high school students with ASD participate in: cross country running, swimming, and track and field. Sports least recommended for high and low functioning students with ASD were football, lacrosse, and ice hockey.