Physical therapy as a tool for developing social-emotional, non-verbal communication and relationships skills of youngsters with ASD

<< Background >>Our aim in the project is to provide effective methods to help individuals with ASD develop their social, emotional and communication skills. Studies have shown that there are various factors that affect the participation of individuals with ASD in physical activity and that programs in this area need to be supported more. In this context, it is aimed to develop effective and reliable intervention programs for students with ASD and to increase the capacity of educators. This project aims to increase the quality of life of students with autism while ensuring that educators and families can work more efficiently with these individuals.<< Objectives >>With our project, we aimed to provide effective methods to develop the social, emotional and communication skills of individuals with ASD. Our main goal is to provide educators with the knowledge and skills that will help students with ASD overcome obstacles in their play, socialization and communication skills. In addition, through our project, it is aimed to share good practices from different countries and to provide practical guides for educators and families by creating an online platform. Students with ASD will receive a higher quality education and will be more independent and interactive in daily life. Supporting the professional development of educators and providing innovative approaches to develop social-emotional skills is one of the important goals of our project. In this way, the educational processes of students with ASD will become more effective and efficient.<< Implementation >>In our project, we carried out a series of activities aimed at developing the social, emotional and communication skills of individuals with ASD. First, we organized training programs for educators. In these trainings, we focused on recognizing the obstacles faced by students with ASD and teaching physical therapy and creative group play techniques to overcome these obstacles. In addition, we provided participants with various play techniques and social interaction strategies, and provided support so that they could implement these methods in their own institutions. As part of the project, creative group games were designed to develop the communication skills of individuals with ASD and these games were taught to educators. In addition, an online platform was developed for parents and educators.<< Results >>The tangible outcomes of our project provided important resources and tools for the education of individuals with ASD. First, a website was created within the scope of the project. This site provided various educational materials and guides for educators, families, and other stakeholders to develop the social and communication skills of individuals with ASD. In addition, the online handbook and application modules on the website provided educators and parents with practical information, allowing them to use more effective methods in their work with individuals with ASD. The Online Handbook, with different language options, provided comprehensive information and suggestions for teachers and families on how to work more efficiently with individuals with ASD. These tangible tools provided easy access to information for project participants and increased the quality of education, helping individuals with ASD achieve stronger social integration.