Funded Projects

Connecting Autism Community to Accessible Recreation

Project Year

2026

City & State

Aurora, Colorado

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Program Description

Problem: Only 1 out of 8 children with autism meet the recommended goal of 60 minutes per day of physical activity. Children with autism often face barriers to participating in organized extracurricular activities that promote fitness and exercise. Challenges include complex rules of sports, difficulty with socialization, lack of support for special needs, and safety concerns. However, inclusive activities can increase social connection and reduce functional decline. There is a lack of awareness among families, community stakeholders, and healthcare providers about accessible fitness options beyond applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and physical and occupational therapy. Currently, there is no comprehensive, readily available repository of recreational programming designed for families of children with autism in Colorado.  

Primary Setting: The primary setting is an online platform we intend to create to help families connect with in-person opportunities, online communities, and adaptive activities that promote fitness and recreation for children with autism. Organized activities for fitness and exercise will take place in various locations across the community, including parks, gyms, schools, churches, and community centers. Families, autism staff, and providers will discuss these opportunities and provide the necessary connections. These discussions will occur through face-to-face interactions such as clinic or hospital visits, autism referrals, and other community-based services. Additionally, patients and families may engage in meaningful connections via virtual or telephone meetings.  

Number of Children Affected: According to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, the autism prevalence rate in Colorado in 2016 was 13.1 per 1,000 children. Nationally, the 2022 rate rose to 32.2 per 1,000. Based on the 2022 numbers from the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Denver had 131,006 children under 18, and the state had 1,250,481. Using 2016 Colorado rate, this equates to 1,716 children in Denver and 16,381 across Colorado who may have autism. Using the updated national rate, there may be as many as 4,218 children with autism in Denver and 40,265 statewide. 

Project Goal: This project aims to develop and maintain an up-to-date online repository of inclusive, adaptive, and accessible fitness and recreational programs for children with autism in the Denver Metro area. It will serve as a practical tool for families to identify and connect with suitable local programs that support physical activity, social interaction, and community inclusion.  

Proposed Intervention: The intervention involves publishing a newly available, freely accessible and regularly updated online repository of local adaptive fitness and recreational programs. The platform will allow users to filter by location, cost, type of activity, age, skill level, and season. Potential platforms include interactive spreadsheets, websites, or mobile apps. This resource will be distributed via healthcare visit paperwork, autism-specific websites, newsletters, and digital and in-person flyers.  

Anticipated Outcomes:  There are four anticipated outcomes in this project: 1. Increased awareness among families and community stakeholders about accessible recreational opportunities. 2. Increased traffic and engagement with the repository. 3. Greater participation in adaptive activities by children with autism. 4. A model that other institutions can replicate for their own communities. 

Project Goal

Develop and maintain a new, freely accessible, inclusive, and regularly updated digital repository of adaptive recreation programs for children with autism in the Denver area by June 2027, ensuring it reflects diverse community needs and is usable by families, community stakeholders, and staff from varied backgrounds.

Project Objective 1

By October 2026, identify and compile information on at least 50 inclusive and adaptive fitness programs for children with autism in the Denver area, categorizing them by location, cost, activity type, age range, and accessibility, with input from diverse community stakeholders to ensure equitable representation.

Project Objective 2

By March 2027, launch a digital platform that is accessible to users and provides search and filter features for families and clinicians to locate appropriate programs.

Project Objective 3

By May 2027, engage at least 10 clinicians and 20 families in using the repository and collect feedback via surveys or interviews, using this input to make at least 1 round of functional updates that improve the cultural responsiveness and practical utility of the tool for all users.

AAP District

District VIII

Institutional Name

University of Colorado School of Medicine / Children’s Hospital Colorado

Contact 1

Nikhil Crain, MD

Contact 2

Samantha Brener, MD