10 years of football and autismo revised in one book

The topics covered in the book “Football and Autism”, which I co-wrote with my collaborators, illustrate the methodology and results achieved through the integrated football program promoted by ASD Accademia di Calcio Integrato, made possible thanks to the support of AS Roma. The program has been active for over 10 years and represents an innovative educational model aimed at including young people with intellectual disabilities. Its main goal is to promote integration through sport, recognizing football as an educational, relational, and rehabilitative experience.

The project involves children and adolescents with and without disabilities, encouraging teamwork and the development of social skills. From the outset, a 32-hour training course was created to standardize the skills of the team, which includes youth football coaches, sports psychologists, speech therapists, and doctors.

The activities were designed to adapt to the individual abilities of the participants, particularly those with autism spectrum disorders, who show a wide range of motor and psychosocial skills. The program also includes one-on-one sessions when necessary, to ensure personalized interventions.

The annual results have demonstrated the method’s effectiveness, which has been validated through several scientific publications over the years. The project has also had a significant social impact thanks to collaboration with local schools and support teachers, enhancing the inclusion of participants in educational settings.

Families have also played an active role, finding in the training environment a space for sharing and mutual support.

The project has received support from the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP), FISDIR, and the Lazio Regional Council, which helped strengthen and expand the initiative.

Over time, a true community has formed, focused on the well-being of young people with disabilities, showing how sport can be a powerful tool for integration.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who, with dedication and commitment, has made the success of this unique experience possible.