• Satya Rai
• Dr. Y.S. Nirmal

Traditional athletic infrastructure and sports pedagogy are predominantly engineered around neurotypical sensory expectations and fast-paced verbal instruction, creating severe environmental friction for autistic young adults. This study investigates the combined efficacy of sensory-inclusive facility modifications and multi-modal pedagogical scaffolding in fostering an accessible, neurodiversity-affirming athletic environment. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, Phase I evaluated systemic infrastructure and instructional baselines across regional adaptive sports networks (N = 400), while Phase II conducted qualitative and observational field trials (n = 25) with autistic athletes aged 18–25 using a multi-modal Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluation matrix. Quantitative findings revealed widespread deficits in sensory accessibility, while qualitative analysis highlighted three primary barriers: acoustic and visual sensory trauma, cognitive processing lag from un-chunked verbal instruction, and social exclusion in unstructured dynamics. Experimental field trials—incorporating sound-dampening acoustic panels, non-glare matte flooring, high-contrast visual court boundaries, dedicated decompression spaces, 3-step instructional chunking, and visual schedule boards—demonstrated significant reductions in sensory distress behaviors alongside immediate gains in motor skill precision and task execution. Integrating sensory architecture with adaptive pedagogy provides a scalable framework to transition adaptive sports from deficit-centered, therapeutic interventions toward empowering, competitive athletic environments.

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Architecture, Adaptive Physical Education, Multi-Modal Communication, Universal Design, Self-Determination Theory.

"Designing Sensory-Inclusive Athletic Infrastructure: Evaluating Environmental Friction and Accessibility for Autistic Young Adults", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no.b198-b205, September-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609123.pdf

"Designing Sensory-Inclusive Athletic Infrastructure: Evaluating Environmental Friction and Accessibility for Autistic Young Adults", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no. ppb198-b205, September-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609123.pdf