Sport Transforms Lives of Kids with Autism in Central Asia

When 10-year-old Amir climbed onto a road bike for the first time, his mother Fatima Amerzhanova broke down in tears. Her nonverbal son, diagnosed with autism at age four, had just conquered a milestone she once thought impossible.

Fatima discovered adaptive cycling during a summer camp in Turkey six years ago. After shifting her focus from traditional therapies to sports at age six, she immediately noticed changes in Amir's behavior.

"Through physical activity and movement, the child begins to better feel and understand their body, and their brain starts working differently," Fatima said. The structured exercise helped calm Amir and reduce self-harming behaviors that come from limited body awareness.

Coach Kairat Khaldybek runs one of the few adaptive cycling programs in Central Asia at the Velolegend Centre in Astana. He trains 10 to 12 children with autism in group sessions, and some students now compete in races.

"Autism comes in different forms, but we do not select children," Khaldybek said. He receives messages from families across Central Asia asking him to open branches in their cities.

The movement extends beyond cycling. Last month, around 5,000 people participated in Run for Autism, one of Central Asia's largest inclusive running events in Astana.

Since launching in 2023, the Bolashak Charity Foundation has brought together more than 6,400 participants and raised around $85,000 for autism programs. The funds support professional education for teenagers with autism and Down syndrome.

"Thousands of people join us at the start line, and this shows that society is becoming more open, more aware, and more willing to support important social initiatives," said Dinara Gaplan, chairwoman of the foundation. The organization has already opened 25 inclusion support rooms in schools and colleges across Kazakhstan.

The Ripple Effect

What started as individual families seeking help for their children is reshaping how Central Asia approaches autism support. More than 75 million people worldwide live with autism spectrum disorder, and one in 100 children receives a diagnosis, according to the World Health Organization.

Access remains uneven across the region. Most adaptive sports programs concentrate in large cities like Astana, while families in smaller towns have limited options.

Still, the impact reaches beyond physical fitness. For many children with autism, sports provide their first real connection with the world around them, building independence one pedal stroke or lap at a time.