In Northern Ireland 4.7 per cent of school-aged children have received a diagnosis of autism: a spectrum condition characterised by differences in social communication and interaction as well as repetitive and restricted behaviours. Autism is often assessed in young children through differences in play behaviours as compared to typically developing children. These differences can present in terms of imaginative ability, motor skills, flexibility of thought, sharing attention with play partners, and sensory processing.
Although their play may be different, autistic children and young people benefit greatly from engaging in play – particularly outdoors. Research shows that autistic individuals are at a higher risk of obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) due to inactivity and sensory-avoiding behaviours, and are more likely to present with poor fitness levels and underdeveloped motor skills as well as Vitamin D deficiency from not spending enough time outdoors (Lawson & Foster, 2016; McCoy & Morgan, 2020). Playing outdoors creates opportunities for physically active play which can improve motor skills, agility, balance, handgrip strength and flexibility, as well as contributing to overall fitness, offering a variety of sensory input which supports regulation, focus and ability to learn as well as decreasing the stress hormone cortisol (Arslan et al., 2020; Barakat et al., 2019).
However, lack of awareness of how to support play for autistic individuals means autistic children and young people are often unable to participate in play in outdoor environments. Middletown Centre for Autism (established in 2007 by the Department of Education and Skills Ireland and the Department of Education Northern Ireland to support the promotion of excellence throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the education of autistic children and young people) has conducted research in collaboration with autistic children and young people, their parents and educators, to explore the play preferences, needs and barriers faced by the autistic community, in order to present solutions to achieving more equitable and accessible outdoor play within the home, school and community.
