On most days throughout the fall and spring, at Rutgers Prep, Delbarton and Newark Academy – all top girls and boys tennis programs in New Jersey – the tennis courts are defined by high-level competition, where every point carries weight and each match matters.
But for a few hours on select days each year, the pop of tennis balls and the squeak of sneakers signal something different – opportunity, empathy, inclusion and above all, fun.
Members of the boys and girls tennis teams at several N.J. high schools have launched ACEing Autism chapters in recent years, opening their courts to children and teenagers on the autism spectrum. Founded in 2008, ACEing Autism is a national nonprofit and volunteer-driven organization that uses tennis to help children and teenagers ages 5 to 18 grow, develop and benefit from social connections and fitness through affordable tennis programming.
