Meet Doris Obih, our Program Director from Inglewood, CA. Started in December 2020, she has only missed 3 Saturdays since. “Growing up, I didn’t have the money to play tennis or pursue anything in tennis,” she recalled. “So as soon as I could, I wanted to correct that and started to raise money to start…
How did you hear about ACEing Autism and when did you start? I’m on the tennis team at John Hopkins University (rising junior), and Ryan Hellinger, the Program Director plays on it as well. ACEing Autism has been a tradition and Ryan mentioned we would get a session this spring so I jumped on it.…
What are your backgrounds? Elana: I was a stay at home mom for 11 years and when my son started showing signs of delay, I started and completed a Master’s in teaching at USC in Los Angeles. Then I taught intervention classes for reading, for special education. I was Dean of Students and Director of…
How did you hear about ACEing Autism? I heard about ACEing Autism through Coach Danny, he was teaching me at the time at the Copperfield Racquet & Health Club, and was head of ACEing Autism Houston and he told us about it. I thought it would be great to give back and experience tennis in a…
Meet Kaleb Theard, a 5 year old tennis player from our brand new Pasadena program. “This was Kaleb’s first time with tennis at all and the first ever sport we tried,” his mother Cordijah Ward, said. To understand Kaleb’s amazing story, we have to go back to before he was even born. “At 6 and…
How did you hear about ACEing Autism? I heard about it from another organization called LWD (Learning With Disabilities) and thought it would be worth a try. How did your son do in the first couple of sessions being in a new environment? My son does have anxiety sometimes, especially when he first started with…
Today, we honor a very special person, who for the past 6 years has been beyond dedicated to ACEing Autism’s mission. Andrew Grub just finished his last clinic as Program Director for the Weston, FL program. “It’s been rewarding to have the ability to touch the lives of over 100 children while also helping advance…
Listen to what it means for Jackson and Leland to be together during their ACEing Autism clinic in Lexington, KY. For their parents, finding a place where their children can be themselves, be active and foster friendships has been so important. “All the parents get it, if anyone has a sensory overload, there is no…
Meet Ryan, an 18 year old player from our Parker, CO program. “What’s been great about sports is that he’s gotten so much better with dealing with people,” his mother Paula said. Ryan, who is a senior in High School, was about 2 years old when he was diagnosed with autism. “We have a daughter…
During #blackhistorymonth, we are highlighting people who have made an impact in their community and spotlight important discussions regarding health and wellness. Meet David Young, who volunteered for the ACEing Autism program in Williamsburg, VA and is an avid tennis player. He also started his own ACEing Autism program in Richmond, VA with Rachel Rhoney,…
