More than 75 million people around the world 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 some of their biggest challenges. Many parents choose sports as one way to support their development.
From cycling to running, supervised physical activity helps autistic children improve their concentration, regulate their emotions, and develop communication skills. Cycling is among the sports that many parents prefer.
Fatima Amerzhanova’s son, 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 realized that through physical activity, the child starts to calm down, it helps correct aggressiveness and self-harm,” explains Fatima Amerzhanova.
“Thanks to physical activity and movement, the child starts 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 doesn’t fully realize he’s hurting 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’s stressful not only for autistic children but also for neurotypical children. At 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 working with autistic children every day. For the past two years, he has been training them at the Velolegend center in Astana, one of the few places in Central Asia offering such programs.
“Autism manifests in different forms, but we do not select children. We work with all of them from the beginning, and some are already participating 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 growing interest, access to inclusive sports remains unequal in the region. Most programs are concentrated in big cities, while families in smaller towns often have limited options.
More than just a race
Last month, Astana hosted one of the largest inclusive running events in Central Asia. The “Run for Autism” drew around 5,000 participants.
“When we launched this project, our goal was to raise public awareness about autism and mental health,” explains Dinara Gaplan, president of the Bolashak charitable foundation.
“Today, thousands of people join us at the starting line, showing that society is becoming more open, informed, and willing to support important social initiatives.”
Launched in Kazakhstan by the Bolashak charitable foundation in 2023, the initiative has already brought together over 6,400 participants and raised about 80,000 dollars (over 42 million tengues).
“Today, children are growing up, and our programs are evolving with them. We are developing professional training opportunities for teenage and young adult autistic individuals,” says Gaplan.
All funds raised will go towards professional training programs for autistic teenagers and those with Down syndrome.
The Bolashak charitable foundation has already contributed to the opening of 25 support centers 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, provides autistic children with their first real connection to the world around them.
