COACHING
AUTISTIC PEOPLE THROUGH SPORT
CAPS changes how sport, education, and organisations work, so autistic people can take part and experience meaningful inclusion.
Autistic people are still missing out on sport and physical activity.
Not because they don’t want to take part.
But because:
- what is expected isn’t always clear.
- communication doesn’t align.
- behaviour is often misinterpreted.
- participation is defined too narrowly.
So what happens?
People:
- opt out.
- are excluded.
- or never start.
This isn’t about changing the person.
It’s about moving beyond a deficitbased understanding of autism.
For a long time, autism has been framed through:
- problems to fix.
- behaviours to manage.
- differences to reduce.
That framing shapes everything:
- how people are spoken to.
- how behaviour is judged.
- what participation is expected to look like.
But autism is not a deficit, it is a difference.
When that difference is misunderstood:
- communication breaks down.
- expectations don’t fit.
- barriers are created.
Creating better experiences for everyone involved
CAPS works with teachers, coaches, lecturers, and anyone delivering sport or physical activity with autistic people. Grounded in the SPELL Framework, it provides practical strategies that shape what happens before a session even begins, so people don’t arrive already overwhelmed, but with the bandwidth to take part, engage, and enjoy the experience alongside others.
By developing skills in session design, communication, and delivery, CAPS removes the need for guesswork and reduces pressure on those leading sessions. The result is a more consistent, effective experience where people feel accepted, connected, and able to take part, with a positive impact that carries beyond the session itself.
The course was co-designed by our two directors, with input from the autistic community.
The CAPS course is run by members of the neurodivergent community.
Dr Ruth Moyse
Director
Ruth is a teacher by profession and has over 20 years experience in education, plus is a specialist in understanding autistic absenteeism and supporting wellbeing.
James Dewar-Haggart FCIMSPA
Director
James is a expert in sports coaching, specialing in SEND and the neurodivergent community.
CAPS is the first nationally accredited course of its kind through CIMSPA, the UK’s professional body for sport and physical activity.
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out more about CAPS or explore how this could work in your setting, get in touch below.
Office hours
Monday – Friday
9am – 5pm