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Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Introduction
Autism, as defined by the DSM-V, is the demonstration (either in the past or in the present) of deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and deficits in developing maintaining and understanding relationships (autismspeaks.org). Autism is a spectrum disorder with varying levels of severity. Some children may be highly functioning while others remain non-verbal. These deficits can negatively affect a child’s ability to learn and participate in extra-curricular activities. In the classroom, a disruptive behavior may even negatively impact the learning of the other students. Outside of the classroom, communication and relationship barriers typically result in children with autism not participating in sports or other physically demanding activities. Swimming can be a valuable addition to education programs as it is both enjoyable for the subject and contributes to motor development (Mosher 1975 and Wing 1976). A well designed and carefully implemented instructional aquatics program can be instrumental in promoting health and wellness (Auxter, Pyfer, & Huettig, 2001; Lepore, Gayle, & Stevens, 1998). A group swimming and aquatic exercise program has the potential for providing exercise in a social environment and this may have positive aspects on social development and self-esteem in addition to positive effects on health for children with ASD.
Background
Pan and Frey (2006) used an

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