Abstract:
The purpose of our research was to evaluate the effectiveness of using autisswim program on survival swimming skills and physical fitness for autistic children after the Autisswim training program. Using the purposive sampling technique, the sample group in this study consisted of 6 parents and 6 autistic children aged 7 to 12 years who came to receive services at the National Institute for Child and Family Development, Mahidol University from January 2016 to December 2018. The samples were screened by 1) Early Childhood Development Test (Denver II) and 2) Swimming Basics Adjustment Evaluation Form. Data were collected by 1) The Autisswim Program, 2) Autisswim Program Teaching Data Recording Form, 3) Survival Swimming Skills Before and After Study Evaluation Form, 4) Personal Information Questionnaire of Autisswim program, 5) Physical Fitness Assessment Form, and 6) Parents interview form for Autisswim program. Data were analyzed by Descriptive Statistics, Qualitative Data Analysis, The McNemar Test and The Wilcoxon Matched Pair Signed-Ranks Test to examine the hypothesis. Results showed that after the training through the Autisswim program, four samples were able to pass the survival swimming skills test, but two samples were not. The Autisswim Program resulted in the samples to have 3 aspects of survival swimming skills, namely 1) breath control skill 2) buoyancy skill and 3) life jacket wearing skill at a statistical significance level. In addition, a statistically significant increase was found in physical fitness, muscle strength, elasticity and balance among the samples after the Autisswim training program. The results also showed social skills of the samples has also improved. No significant differences were found in the movement skill and lifesaving skills of the samples.