Transition of a Judo Program from In-Person to Remote Delivery During COVID-19 for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objectives To examine the feasibility of a remote judo program for high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Nine high school students with ASD had been participating in an in-person judo program that transitioned to a livestream format once the stay-at-home orders were mandated. The students completed surveys regarding their experience with the remote sessions. Their classroom teacher completed a semi-structured interview regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the remote format. Results Eight out of the nine students attended 92% of the remote classes. All nine students reported feeling satisfied with the remote judo sessions. Reported benefits of the remote format included the structured routine during the pandemic and the opportunity for physical activity. Disadvantages included a lack of space and lack of one-on-one instruction. Conclusions The remote judo program appeared to be both feasible and acceptable for youth with ASD.