As many search for the causes of autism, an urgent possibility arises: maybe another question continues to go overlooked. Science will continue to study genetics, environment, and other important factors that may one day offer clearer answers. While science continues to explore causation, families live in the right now. And the truth is that another…
The courts were quiet, the stands still empty, when the first cheers rose from a group of young athletes in bright blue shirts. They weren’t pros (yet), but they played like the whole world was watching. Before the stadiums filled for championship tennis at the U.S. Open, nearly 100 children and adults with special needs…
Finding her Voice Through tennis: How Rebecca Falkner Axelrod’s story Rebecca’s journey with tennis began when she was just six years old. Growing up, she was considered largely non-verbal, “I pretty much got kicked to the curb in other sports because coaches didn’t understand nor wanted to deal with me,” she recalls. But everything changed…
For many, tennis is just a game. For Paul Armitage, 19 years old, it’s a transformation. What started as a way for him to have fun and engage with peers has turned into something much more—a journey of confidence, skill-building, and leadership. Through ACEing Autism, a program dedicated to providing tennis opportunities for individuals with…
ACEing Autism is always looking for ways to enhance our parents’ experience and make it more fulfilling. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, and we are excited to share the results of our parent survey below. We sincerely thank everyone who took the time to participate in our survey. If you haven’t had the…
We are excited to announce our 2024 ACEing Autism Award winners! We want to congratulate everyone on a fantastic year and we look forward to an even better one. PROGRAM OF THE YEAR: Buffalo, NY: Led by the outstanding Program Director Kathy Connelly and her dedicated team of volunteers, Buffalo has created a welcoming…
Faculty and students in Columbus State University’s College of Education & Health Professions have become on-the-court sensations in the eyes of a special group of youth participating in the three-week ACEing Autism tennis program. As a modified sport program to meet children’s at their needs, education students gain experience they’ll take into K-12 classrooms as…
Sam Zausner, a 16-year-old junior at Tenafly High School, has been playing tennis since he was 5. He plays at the Tenafly Racquet Club, is on his school team, participates in tournaments, and also volunteers as a coach in a tennis program for local kids. His brother Eli, a 15-year-old freshman at Tenafly High…
Teaching the game of tennis without letting a diagnosis define the player is the goal of ACEing Autism, a unique program offered in North Texas serving up opportunities and connection. On the tennis court, Ryan Curry is an 18-year-old who loves learning the game of tennis. His mom, Stephanie Curry, said she has watched…
