Sports, games, recreational activities, and let’s face it—fun—is important for all children. So as a parent or caregiver, it’s important that we do our best to make sure that everyone has their chance to be involved. Creating inclusive youth clubs and teams is essential for supporting children of all abilities, including those with autism. When done well, inclusion fosters a sense of belonging, boosts confidence, and encourages meaningful social connections. 

Here are ten practical ways to promote inclusivity for children with autism in Burlington in youth settings.

1. Educate Staff and Volunteers
   Sometimes the issue is just knowing the correct way to say things, at the correct time. People can be awkward if you don’t give them some pointers on the proper way to approach a sensitive situation. Train staff, coaches, and volunteers on autism awareness and inclusive practices. Understanding how autism affects communication, behaviour, and social interaction helps adults respond with empathy, patience, and support.

2. Create Predictable Routines
   What can seem like a boring task done over and over again, seemingly the same way each time, may actually be more of an experiment in refinement and efficiency to a child with autism. It can also offer them a sense of control over their own lives. Children with autism often thrive on structure and routine. You can work around this. Provide clear schedules, visual aids, or cues that outline the day’s activities. Predictability reduces anxiety and helps children feel more secure.

3. Use Clear And Simple Communication
   Have a quick meeting with everyone in the group and explain a few things about communications before they begin. Instruct them to use direct, clear language when giving instructions. Avoid idioms or figurative speech that may be confusing. Visual supports, gestures, or demonstrations can also enhance understanding for nonverbal or literal thinkers.

4. Foster Peer Awareness and Kindness
   The more that a group understands your child’s state-of-mind, the more compassionate they will be. Promote empathy among neurotypical peers through age-appropriate discussions or activities about diversity and inclusion. Emphasizing kindness, patience, and teamwork creates a more accepting group culture.

5. Offer Flexible Participation Options
   There’es no one-size-fits-all when it comes to this stuff. Encourage the group to treat your child as their own individual, and not like another child with autism they may have had in the program before. Not every child will engage in the same way. Allow children with autism to choose how they participate—whether it’s playing, observing, helping with setup, or taking breaks when needed. Flexibility ensures they remain involved on their terms.

6. Modify Activities When Necessary
   Sometimes in order for one person to fit in, everyone needs to change around them. Now, no one expects this in professional sports, but these are kids, playing kids’ games, so a little flexibility in the rules doesn’t hurt, and it can go a long way to making sure that everyone is involved equally in a fun way. Adapt games or group activities to meet the sensory, physical, or social needs of participants with autism. Small changes, like lowering noise levels or simplifying rules, can make a big difference in accessibility. For example, a strike is only counted if the bat is swung. It’s a simple modification, and it will get more runners on base and involved in the game. 

7. Create A Safe Sensory Space
   Everyone needs a breather now and then. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation area where children can take breaks if they become overwhelmed. This space can help with regulation and allows children to rejoin when they’re ready without pressure.

8. Celebrate Individual Strengths
   One of the interesting facts about children with autism is that they sometimes have special talents—even superpowers—in their own way (that’s how we see it at Monarch House). Make sure that the other kids know what makes your child special and see that they celebrate their abilities. Recognize each child’s unique talents—whether it’s memory, focus, creativity, or problem-solving. Highlighting strengths boosts self-esteem and encourages inclusion through appreciation rather than accommodation alone.

9. Collaborate With Families
   You’re going to want to get the adults involved as well. Work closely with parents or caregivers to understand each child’s needs, preferences, and strategies that work. Families offer valuable insight that can guide inclusive planning and foster consistency between environments.

10. Promote Leadership And Advocacy
    Ask everyone to speak up. Give the shrinking violets of the group a chance to shine and make a difference. Empower children with autism by giving them opportunities to lead or share their ideas. Encourage them to take on roles that match their interests and skills, and support their voices within the group.

At the end of the day, the goal is not to make small changes in the way things are done, the idea is to create systemic change that welcomes everyone to an activity, no matter what their age, understanding, or ability.  Inclusivity is more than just allowing children with autism in Burlington to join—it’s about intentionally creating environments where every child feels seen, supported, and valued. At Monarch House we have a professional, interdisciplinary staff of occupational therapists, behavioural therapists, psychotherapists, and speech pathologists that are here to help. By incorporating these ten strategies, youth clubs and teams can become spaces where diversity is not only accepted but celebrated.