Fit and ready together: classroom staff training for implementation of a daily exercise program in specialized classroom settings for autistic students

Engaging in physical activity is mentally, emotionally, and physically beneficial for children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Autistic children access fewer physical activities in the community than their neurotypical peers (Must et al, 2014). Autistic students need greater access to structured fitness opportunities to enhance their physical well-being, emotional wellness, and cognition for school participation. The purpose of this capstone project was for staff serving self-contained classrooms specialized for middle school autistic students in an urban public school district in the United States, to be trained on and to implement the Fit and Ready Together program, a classroom-based daily exercise program designed by an occupational therapist (OT). Classroom staff participants were trained on the program over two 30-minute trainings, followed by their daily implementation of the program in their classrooms with fading program developer support over a four-week period. Pre- and post-program surveys were compared to measure participants’ perceptions regarding the benefits of incorporating structured fitness routines in their classrooms, and overall classroom engagement was rated by participants over the four-week implementation period. Results of the program indicate that Fit and Ready Together is a viable program that promotes autistic student engagement in fitness and leisure opportunities within their classrooms. School-based OTs can support autistic students and facilitate opportunities within the classroom for greater access to meaningful occupations of structured physical and leisure activities. Further research may include program development and implementation over a longer time frame, with a larger sample size, and with incorporation of evidence-based components to target peer interactions.