Bridging the gap: The role of exercise in autism intervention

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnoses continue to rise globally, with 1 in 36 children in the United States now identified as being on the spectrum. In the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, reliable prevalence data remains limited due to a lack of comprehensive research.

However, a recent 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis — conducted by experts from Qatar University, Sidra Medicine, Hamad Hospital, and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar — analysed over 3,000 studies and found that ASD prevalence varies significantly across the region, from as low as 0.01% in Oman to 2.51% in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated overall prevalence of 0.13%.

Trends indicate that autism diagnoses are increasing, highlighting the urgent need for high-quality research to provide accurate prevalence estimates and, more importantly, to equip parents, educators, and professionals with the necessary resources to support individuals with autism effectively.

In response to this growing need, The UAE Third International Conference on ASD: Challenges and Solutions will take place from April 26-29 in Abu Dhabi. Organised by the Lotus Holistic Medical Centre, this conference will bring together leading international experts in ASD research, education, and intervention. Attendees, including parents, researchers, medical professionals, educators, and therapists, will have access to workshops and presentations spanning multiple disciplines, including medical, sensory-motor, and behavioural.

I am honoured to be invited, and to return to the Mena region, to present and lead a workshop on the importance of exercise for People of Determination. My journey advocating for exercise as an essential intervention for those with autism in the Mena region began in 2010 in Cairo, Egypt. Maha Helali, Member of the Scientific Committee for April’s conference, invited me to present and conduct a workshop for the organisation she co-founded, the ADVANCE Center. Maha was a pioneer in the Mena region recognising the role exercise and physical activity plays in supporting the health and wellness of children with autism as well as the cognitive benefits.

Many professionals and parents are unaware that Exercise & Movement is one of the 28 evidence-based practices supporting the development of those with ASD. Additionally, Exercise & Movement extends beyond the traditional health benefits, and has been shown to lead to improvements in on-task behaviour, social skills, motor development, academics, and even language development. Yet, despite decades of compelling evidence, exercise is still not widely recognised as a primary intervention for autism. Not just in the Mena Region but even in the United States.

This oversight is understandable. When a child is diagnosed with autism, parents typically follow early intervention protocols, which often include Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy, physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech-language pathology (SLP). These are critical interventions to a child’s physical and cognitive development. Many parents believe that their children are getting exercise in PT and OT sessions. This is often true. PT and OT goals can be focused on gross-motor development, however, these therapies are not designed to meet the daily physical activity needs for People of Determination.

In my presentation and workshop, I will demonstrate how exercise and structured movement activities — when implemented using evidence-based teaching strategies — can be seamlessly integrated into existing interventions, classroom settings, and homes to enhance learning and development. I will also share the misunderstandings of exercise and how it is different from physical education and sport.

My work in the Mena region has continued over the years. In 2011, I presented and led a workshop at the Autism Around the World Conference in Dubai. More recently, in 2022, I returned to the region as the keynote presenter at Bahrain’s Health & Wellness Conference – Autism, Family, & Community. This conference was organised by Sana Ghawas, owner of Wonder Fitness Center (Wonder), who is also parent of a child with autism.

Sana founded Wonder after she and her team earned the Autism Exercise Specialist Certificate®, a program my company, Exercise Connection, developed in partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) — the world’s largest sports medicine and exercise science organisation. This research-supported Certificate has empowered Sana and her team to create meaningful change in Bahrain, improving the health, wellness, and quality of life for People of Determination.

The impact of Wonder’s work is best captured by the families they serve. One parent shared, “My son, who is 12 years old, can now open the door handle by himself.” Another reflected on a simple yet life-changing improvement, saying, “Shopping with my four-year-old became smoother because he can push the cart easily and independently.”

Today, Wonder Fitness Center is the first Exercise Connection Certified Facility in the Mena Region. Wonder has expanded to a team of four, with a growing waitlist of families seeking their expertise. This success highlights the power of exercise as an essential intervention, and my goal is to equip more professionals and caregivers with this knowledge — so more children and adults can experience these life-changing benefits.

The UAE Third International Conference on ASD: Challenges and Solutions serves as a crucial forum to bridge knowledge gaps and highlight the role of exercise and other key interventions for People of Determination across the Mena region. This conference is an opportunity for professionals, educators, and families to work together toward a shared vision — one that ensures People of Determination receive the comprehensive support they need, fostering greater inclusion and contributing to the betterment of society.