Sport and Autism, from a scientific diagnosis to the CREation of a pedagogical European model

ended

While the impact of sport on people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has been recently addressed thanks to different experiments and studies, they remain rare, target small panels and regularly focus only on youngsters or children. Also, in many cases, only one type of activity is proposed or analysed. The SACREE project is dedicated to improving the daily life and development of adults and children with autism, through the inclusive practice of sport activities. Initiated by the FSASPTT, leading French multi-sport federation, and adopting a partnership approach, the project builds on the existing groundworks and experience of 5 European partners from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Croatia, committed to work collectively for efficient impacts. SACREE intends to co-construct an evidence-based pedagogical model, built on a scientific comparative study and field-tests carried out in different environments and countries. By bringing together actors from the world of autism, sport, and science, and strong from a solid evaluation plan and capacity building program, SACREE will contribute to: • bridging the knowledge gap around Sport & Autism, • analysing the benefits of diverse activities on different age groups, gathering EU level best practices and innovative approaches, • proposing an impactful, replicable and field-oriented model, transferable to any size, system, status or available resources. Beyond increasing the quality of life of people with ASD as well as their families, friends, and relatives; the project will bring missing knowledge to the field and open new horizons on which targeted actors and EU policies may build their actions, toward a more equalitarian, inclusive, and diverse society.