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 her son’s skills on the court improve.
“In the beginning, I think it was even hard for him to hold the racket upright,” she said. “I have some old videos, and watching the old videos and seeing such an improvement he has made and seeing how willing he is to stick with it, I’m just so proud.” The sport of tennis challenges people’s perceptions of what it means to have autism.
“Motor skills are hard for [Ryan’s] social skills, he’s not able to speak but he can type, he can handwrite and he can point on a letterboard,” Stephanie Curry said. Ryan Curry can now say he plays tennis thanks to the team of volunteers and program directors at ACEing Autism.
