Participation and Experiences in Extracurricular Activities for Autistic and Neurotypical Children

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Organized Extracurricular Social Activities (OESA) offer developmental benefits for children.
• Understanding differences in OESA participation for autistic children is crucial for inclusive practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare OESA participation and experiences between autistic and neurotypical children aged 4-12 years.
• To identify factors influencing OESA engagement for autistic children.

Main Methods:

• Parental survey data collected from parents of autistic children (n=35) and neurotypical children (n=171).
• Comparative analysis of reported child participation and experiences in OESAs.

Main Results:

• Autistic children showed significantly lower participation rates in OESAs compared to neurotypical peers.
• Parents of autistic children reported less favorable perceptions of their child's abilities, behavior, OESA features, and social environment.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities exist in OESA participation and experiences between autistic and neurotypical children.
• Individual abilities, behavioral factors, OESA characteristics, and the social milieu are key areas for intervention to enhance OESA inclusion for autistic youth.