RESULTS

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This output describes the results of a comprehensive literature review and collected data through questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups with the involved stakeholders. This work aimed to understand the attitudes and needs of individuals with ASD towards sports and physical activities to develop evidence-based interventions that promote physical, mental, and social well-being among individuals with ASD.

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The output contains the SPAUT curriculum and related course content, which includes information about autism and table tennis, as well as VR training. The information about autism covered topics such as what autism is, symptoms, motoric difficulties, sensory integration problems, different types of autism, risk factors, lifestyle, diet, and difficulties of adult autistic persons with social integration. The section on autism and table tennis explored how to work with individuals with autism, including repetitive behaviors and sport activities, sensory and motoric difficulties, giving directions, correcting and supervising playing, motivating in a supportive way, dealing with melt downs, working with parents and family, and promoting interaction among players. The section on VR training covered how autistic individuals respond to VR, what to avoid, how to supervise and motivate, and signs of frustration, discouragement, and lack of motive.

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The output presents the e-learning platform hosting the SPAUT course. Moodle open-source platform was used. The platform is available at: http://elearning.spaut.eu/
In the project web site http://www.spaut.eu/ carers and parents of people with Autism are able to find the certified table tennis coaches and physical education teachers in their area. SPAUT VR App was also part of this output. Table tennis rules and basic movements are delivered through a VR interactive environment. Using the app wearing VR headsets, the user can select if he or she is left or right-handed. There are different types of games that the user can play in the App to practice basic table tennis skills (bounce, practice in a wall, receive serve, receive shot, serve, etc).

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Pilot training activities were implemented in partner countries to test and validate the training materials. The training was directed at table tennis coaches and physical education teachers and took place online. 25 participants, from every participating country (approximately 5 per country) completed the training and were certified. The certification scheme contained principles and requirements necessary to award the job qualification based on the Standard ISO 17024. Trainees were assessed to ensure they had the knowledge, skills, and competences necessary to award the SPAUT qualification.

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This intervention included an initial assessment of the participant's skills, teaching the rules of table tennis and gradually increasing the complexity of the exercises, including training through the VR app, and assessing their effectiveness through pre-tests and post-tests on participants.