A SPORTS charity has introduced free rugby sessions in Scotland for primary school pupils with autism in a bid to help them and their parents.
The Strathmore Rugby Club Community Trust, in Forfar, is holding the weekly sessions for Angus Primary 1-7 pupils every Friday.
They include a “rugby ready” warm-up, touch-based rugby games and sensory activities including proprioceptive input – to create sensations from joints, muscles and connective tissues that underlie body awareness.
The sessions are designed to create a positive learning environment for children with or undergoing diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their siblings to have fun while developing confidence and social skills as well as general physical literacy and sporting skills.
They also provide respite and social contact for parents and carers – who can socialise on-site as well as spectate, with the knowledge their child is in a safe environment.
The community project assistants leading the sessions, supported by community project co-ordinator Josh Gabriel-Clarke and club coaches and staff, all received training in autism-friendly rugby and coaching children with autism.
Gabriel-Clarke said: “My son Archie, who is six, was diagnosed with autism and Sensory Processing Difficulties (SPD) aged three.
“As a parent of a child with ASD and being engaged with the additional needs community, I recognised there’s a demand but a distinct lack of activities in the area for children with additional needs such as ASD and SPD.”
Parent Rachael Cumming, who has two children with autism taking part, added: “The kids are loving it. Their social and emotional skills – which autistic kids struggle with – are flourishing. They’ve just blossomed.
“For me, I get to come down and have a cuppa with some other mums while the kids can play with other kids.
“It’s hard having autistic children – you feel lonely. I most enjoy that my children are coming here and having fun.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here