More than 75 million people worldwide live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One in 100 children receives an autism diagnosis, according to the World Health Organization.
Autism is not a condition that can be treated with medication. It requires different approaches to support development.
For many autistic children, communication and social interactions are among the greatest challenges. Many parents choose sports as a way to support their development.
Du vélo à la course à pied, une activité physique encadrée aide les enfants autistes à améliorer leur concentration, à réguler leurs émotions et à développer leurs compétences en communication. Parmi les sports que de nombreux parents privilégient figure le cyclisme adapté.
Fatima Amerzhanova’s son, Amir, from Astana (Kazakhstan), was diagnosed with autism at the age of four. Today, 10-year-old Amir is non-verbal, but he is making progress through sports.
“At six years old, we focused on sports and immediately saw results. We understood that through physical activity, the child begins to calm down, which helps correct aggression and self-aggression,” explains Fatima Amerzhanova.
“Thanks to physical activity and movement, the child begins to better feel and understand his body, and his brain starts to function differently. Even my child sometimes bites himself, and I understand that he does not fully realize that he is harming himself.”
Fatima discovered adapted cycling for her son during a summer camp in Turkey. Back in Kazakhstan, they continued training and then decided to switch from individual sessions to group work, hoping it would help him socialize.
“In a group, there are 10 to 12 children. It is stressful not only for autistic children but also for neurotypical children. During the 23rd session, he rode a road bike for the first time, and I cried because we had finally achieved it,” recounts Fatima Amerzhanova.
Cycling coach Kairat Khaldybek is one of those who work daily with autistic children. For two years, he has been training them at the Velolegend center in Astana, one of the few places in Central Asia to offer such programs.
“Autism presents itself in different forms, but we do not select children. We work with everyone from the beginning, and some already participate in competitions,” explains Kairat Khaldybek.
“For now, we are only based in Astana, Kazakhstan, but we receive messages from different cities in Central Asia asking us to open branches.”
In addition to cycling, autistic children are increasingly participating in swimming, tennis, and running.
Despite the growing interest, access to inclusive sports remains unequal in the region. Most programs are concentrated in big cities, while families in small towns often have few options.
More than just a race
Last month, Astana hosted one of the largest inclusive race events in Central Asia. The “Run for Autism” brought together around 5,000 participants.
“When we launched this project, our goal was to draw public attention to autism and mental health,” explains Dinara Gaplan, president of the charitable foundation Bolashak.
Launched in Kazakhstan by the charitable foundation Bolashak in 2023, the initiative has already brought together more than 6,400 participants and raised around 80,000 € (more than 42 million tenge).
“Today, children are growing up, and our programs are evolving with them. We are developing vocational training opportunities for autistic teenagers and young adults,” says Gaplan.
All funds raised will be dedicated to vocational training programs for autistic teenagers and those with Down syndrome.
The charitable foundation Bolashak has already contributed to the opening of 25 support rooms for inclusion in schools and higher education institutions across Kazakhstan.
In many Central Asian families, sports are no longer just an activity for children. It helps reduce anxiety, strengthen autonomy, and in some cases, offers autistic children their first real connection to the world around them.
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