Motor Support Program for Multidimensional Development in Autistic Children

This mixed-method study evaluated the effects of a 12-week Motor Support Program (MSP) on the multidimensional development of children with autism aged 4-6. The program targeted motor skills, social skills, pre-academic abilities, sensory regulation, and autism-specific symptoms. A total of 30 children diagnosed with autism from four special education and rehabilitation centers in Istanbul were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. Quantitative data were collected using a pretest-posttest control group design: motor skills were measured with BOT-2, social skills with SSRS-PTF, pre-academic skills with PASAF, autism symptoms with the Adapted Autism Behavior Checklist, and sensory processing with the Sensory Profile. Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured focus group interviews with parents, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. The interview questions were developed by the researchers and finalized based on expert feedback.