Judo program for the inclusion of autistic children at primary school

ongoing

The research project was born from the four-year experience gained within the Italian Judo Fight and Karate Federation (FIJLKAM) by Dott.ssa. Nicole Maussier, member of the FIJLKAM National School as course tutor national. During these years, by monitoring the needs presented by the students (coaches, instructors and teachers), the need to provide more skills for the management of children with autistic spectrum (increasingly numerous) in gyms has been identified. To date, in fact, there was not a specific reference figure to support their motor activities. The KATAUTISM project was born as a pilot in 2021/2022 involving 1 region 100 children of which 5 are autistic, in 2022 KATAUTISM wins the Sport and Health tender and becomes a national project involving 7 Italian regions 573 children of which 31 are autistic. Both projects demonstrated significant behavioral, relational and motor adaptations. The Katautism project has as its main objective the specific training of judo coaches in order to be able to adapt the martial arts to the needs of these children. The latest scientific research shows that martial arts are one of the best recommended sports for autistic children. On the basis of this Katautism it is proposed to structure a specific path of specializations for judo coaches. The first phase will consist of following course at the Olympic center in Ostia where all staff members from each European country will have to participate.The course will include a theoretical part concerning the technical field of judo, a theoretical part concerning aspects of autism, a practical part in the gym to see the application part of the exercises in schools and a practical part with autistic children led by autism tutors who will help students understand the difficulties and how to face them. Each Eruropean country will have to recruit coaches who have experience with autistic children, psychologists / psychotherapists with experience in autistic children.