Abstract
The purposes of this article are to introduce the reader to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to establish the importance of physical activity in this population, and to highlight some of the unique challenges faced when working with children and teenagers with ASD in the health and fitness setting. The author provides some basic guidelines and recommendations to support professionals when developing exercise programs to achieve positive outcomes and long-term adherence. An in-depth discussion of etiology, diagnostics, clinical presentation, and treatment is beyond the scope of this article.