More than 700 Autistic students come together for Sydney sports carnival

More than 700 Autistic students from across New South Wales have enjoyed a day of running, jumping, competing and cheering each other on at Australia’s largest autism-specific school sports carnival.

Held at Sydney Olympic Park on 29 October, the annual event brought together students from Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) schools, with some travelling from as far as Port Macquarie, Albury, the Hunter and Wollongong to take part.

There were running races, obstacle courses, field events and team activities, with plenty of encouragement from teachers, families and volunteers along the way.

There’s a lot of thought that goes into making the day work for everyone. Students can wear headphones, have individual support or take time out in a quiet space when things become overwhelming. There’s flexibility around how they participate, with activities designed to accommodate different sensory, communication and support needs.

And there’s quite a bit of preparation involved too. Teachers and support staff spend months helping students get ready, using visual schedules, social stories and practice activities so they know what to expect on the day.

Joanne Tisdell, Principal of Aspect South East Sydney School, said seeing students supporting one another was one of the highlights.

“We have some very talented young athletes at Aspect who competed in every race and came away with plenty of first-place ribbons. But what was really special was seeing how they supported and cheered each other on, celebrating a second or third place just as enthusiastically as a win.”

Making sport more accessible

While the carnival was a chance for students to have fun and spend time with friends, it also highlighted something many families of Autistic children know only too well: getting involved in sport and recreational activities isn’t always easy.

New research from Aspect’s Access Australia study found that 42 per cent of parents of Autistic children reported difficulties accessing organised sport and sporting clubs.

More than half (52 per cent) reported difficulties accessing swimming pools, while 47 per cent experienced barriers to using parks and outdoor spaces.

Dr Vicki Gibbs, Head of Research at Aspect, said relatively simple changes could make a real difference to children’s opportunities to participate.

“Sport offers children opportunities to develop skills, build confidence, make friends and enjoy being active,” she said. “But for many Autistic children, participating in community sport isn’t always straightforward.”

Providing clear information about activities, reducing sensory demands and allowing children some flexibility in how they take part are among the adjustments she says sporting organisations could consider.

“The carnival shows what can be achieved when sporting activities are planned with different needs in mind. We’d love to see more community sporting organisations take a similar approach so Autistic children have greater opportunities to get involved.”

For the students who took part, the day was also an opportunity to catch up with friends from other Aspect schools, meet new people and enjoy being part of something together.

And, of course, bring home a few ribbons.