Altea Autismo recognized for its project ‘Social Inclusion through physical activity and sport’

The Altea association (Almería Autism Spectrum Disorder) has been awarded, in the III edition of Health and Wellbeing Awards organized by the Joly Group with the sponsorship of Cofares and Teva, with the award of the category Health Promotion and Quality of Life for the development of the project focused on carrying out physical activities associated with skill development of users with ASD in the province of Almería.

The project ‘Social Inclusion through physical activity and sport’ provides services to more than 80 users throughout the province each year through sports activities such as swimming or multisport which include disciplines such as athletics, badminton, basketball or soccer, among others.

All this is developed in adapted facilities in the province of Almería by the hand of professionals trained specifically in intervention with people with autism and sport. Maintaining a one-to-one ratio, where each user is directed by a monitor and accompanied by users without disabilities, giving an inclusive value to the project, activities are carried out that go far beyond practicing sports as such. Through an initial evaluation, work objectives are established that consolidate the individualized action plan that is reviewed quarterly.

All this is based on a methodology that aims to promote scenarios for the development of abilities or capacities limited by the diagnosis, such as socialization, communication, cognitive flexibility, among others. What happens in the day to day can seem like pure magic, people with autism developing under equal conditions, learning from themselves and from others almost without perceiving the therapeutic approach of the project, because fun is the protagonist in these activities.

For all this and for the contribution to the quality of life that this project supposes for more and more families, Altea has received from the hand of health counselor, Jesús Aguirre, the recognition. The association’s technical coordinator, Francisco Camúnez, thanked the award for the award, which invites us to gain momentum to continue fighting for and for the nearly 150 families he represented at the gala held at the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville.

As an example of its day to day, Altea carries out therapies in natural contexts with a very focused approach on the generation of tools in the family unit, specific educational support, inclusive sport, equine therapy, inclusive leisure or specific training.