Klavdiia Bukina

Adapted Physical Education For Adolescents With Autism Disorder

Thesis plan

Kajaani University of Applied Sciences

School of Sports

Degree Program of Sports and Leisure Management

27.01.2015

		THESIS ABSTRACT
School		Degree Programme
Health		Sport and Leisure Management
Author(s)
Klavdiia Bukina
Title
Adapted Physical Education For Adolescents With Autism Disorder
vaihtoehtiset
Optional Professional Studies		Supervisor(s)
		Kari Partanen
		Commissioned by
Date		Total Number of Pages and Appendices
27.01.2015		13+5
This thesis studies the physical development and education of 13-16 year old adolescents with autism disorder and examines the adapted physical program at Väinölän koulu. The school is focused on special education for children and adolescents with a variety of mental and physical disorders. The school provides individual education and other specific services for adolescents affected with autism. However, no adapted physical education program specifically for autistic adolescents is currently utilized in the school. The main purpose of this thesis is to identify the main challenges of physical development and physical education among autistic adolescents based on both the literature and individual evaluation of the autistic pupils. On the basis of this, thesis introduces an adapted physical education program specifically for autistic adolescents in Väinolän koulu. The program contains different types of physical activity lessons to improve the skills that require most development, such as locomotor and object control exercises. The program also aims to help autistic adolescents understand the meaning of the exercises. The research data will be gathered qualitatively from each participant. First, the participants will be observed for 6 months on a monthly basis to surveys their physical activity and capabilities. After the observation period, the physical activity level and capabilities of each pupil will be evaluated using a specific physical activity test. Especially the locomotor and object control skills will be made. The physical activity program included various physical activity exercises for a 6-month period according to participants’ individual physical activity level. Data analysis and evaluation will be done using a scale made specifically for this purpose.
Language of Thesis	English
Keywords	Adapted, autism, disorder, education, kids, physical
Deposited at	Electronic library Theseus Kajaani University of Applied Sciences Library

PREFACE

The work outlined in this thesis is carried out in the University of applied Sciences, Finland. The work will be done over the period of November to May 2015 for a English Bachelor's Degree in Sports and Leisure Management. My supervisor on the Thesis has been Kari Partanen. Solely the author has made the thesis; some part of the text, however, is based on the research of others, and I have done my best to provide references to these sources.

The material included in this thesis has not been submitted for a degree or diploma or any other qualification at any other university.

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 AUTISM DISORDER 3

2.1 History of autism 5

2.3 Reasons for autism 9

2.4 Types of autism 11

2.5 Treatment 18

3 ADOLESCENts WITH AUTISM DISORDER 23

4 ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION 25

5 RESEARCH PROBLEM 28

6 RESEARCH METHOD 30

1.1 Data collection 30

1.2 Participants 30

1.3 Data analysis 31

7 DISCUSSION 33

1.4 Reliability of the study 33

1.5 Ethical Issues and Permits 33

8 RESOURCES AND MARKETING 35

1.6 Working schedule 35

1.7 Resources 36

SOURCES 37

Preliminary table of contents 38

List of key words 38

Permission form 38

Approveform 38

1. Introduction

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviour. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. (Myers SM, Johnson CP, 2007, 120). This thesis studies the Autism disorder among 13-16 years old adolescences and adapted physical program for Väinolän koulu.

The outcome of this thesis will be a be the physical activity program based on the activity level of those kids, moreover, it will be suitable for the other participants of Väinolän koulu who are visiting special gym classes as well. Physical activity program is made for Väinolän koulu. This school is focusing on special education for kids who are having different mental and physical disorders. They are providing different education and other special services for kids with mental and physical disabilities. They have different types of kids in different age groups. Teachers that instruct the classes in Väinolän koulu are well educated people in the field of working with special kids. During physical activity classes in Väinolän koulu they pay a close attention to planning the instructions before the classes, moreover they are trying to make all exercises suitable for all kids with different disorders. This thesis can help teachers of Väinolän koulu to provide special physical activity classes mostly for autistic kids according to their activity level and to develop their skills. Also that program will be used for the rest of the group as well.

Author’s personal aims were to better understand the nature of Autism disorder and especially kids who are having it. Also to investigate the reasons of difficulties for kids to evaluate their locomotor and object control skills. Since I want to study further in the field of adapted physical education and well-being, this knowledge would be beneficial for my professional development. From the working life point of view, Väinolän koulu will get new knowledge during the whole process and after completing it. Staff members can use that program during their working process for everyone whom this program will suit. Also Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KUAS) will improve cooperation with Väinolän koulu and get the research data that could be used during the lectures about adapted physical education and students can use it as well during their research or practical part of the studies.

The research data will be gathered by qualitative research method. Physical activity program will include various physical activity lessons for kids with autism disorder for the (?) period according to their physical activity level. Each kid at the end of observing sessions will pass the special physical activity test, and then the data will be collected and evaluated with use of special scale. Based on the results of each kid, physical program will be made with the purpose of use for the other participants with various mental and physical disorders. This program will include special exercises to evaluate especially locomotor and object control skills of the students.

Väinolän koulu has commissioned this thesis because of their own interest in developing their students’ physical activity level. This research and final data results can provide some new information for the staff members of that school. Moreover, they can get new knowledge how to develop locomotor and object control skills of their autistic students.