Wheelchair & Adaptive Tennis

USTA New England is dedicated to providing top-notch programming and improvement opportunities to wheelchair and adaptive athletes of all ages and backgrounds. Visit our national USTA webpage for an overview of wheelchair tennis around the country. You can also visit our national USTA webpage to find even more adaptive tennis programs. Plus, learn all about the values and benefits seen with adaptive tennis programs in our New England community and beyond.

In New England, we have wheelchair tennis programs, adaptive tennis programs and some programs that cater to both wheelchair and adaptive tennis needs. Wheelchair tennis focuses on those players that have strictly physical limitations while Adaptive tennis focuses on those players with cognitive disabilities.

Wheelchair Tennis Resources

To promote the game of tennis and help individuals seeking out a way to get involved, we have adaptive tennis programs for all ages. Find a program that suits your needs today! 

Tennis Weekend Wheelchair & Adaptive Tennis Session Resources

USTA Wheelchair Resources

Nationwide Adaptive Tennis Programs

Wheelchair Tennis Levels 1-3 Tournament Director Manual

ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Director Guide

New England Wheelchair Tennis Programs

Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation

We offer several 3 hour lessons for people with disabilities. All equipment and instruction is provided free to our participants. We offer lessons at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine and in Bethel, Maine throughout the summer.

South Coast Wheelchair Tennis Foundation

The South Coast Wheelchair Tennis Foundation provides instruction in wheelchair tennis for the purpose of introducing individuals with disabilities to wheelchair tennis and to improving and/or developing their capabilities in wheelchair tennis. South Coast Wheelchair Tennis Foundation is a resource to other organizations to further the development of wheelchair tennis and encourage the incorporation of wheelchair tennis into the mainstream of tennis. South Coast wheelchair Tennis Foundation is available for exhibition wheelchair tennis matches, clinics and “Train the Trainer”. Click here for a list of their upcoming clinics. 

Adaptive Tennis Programs: 

South Shore YMCA

South Shore YMCA inclusion modified programming assists individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to become independent, engaged, and successful at the Y and beyond. From beginners to high level play, we meet twice a week all year long and complete in many different tournaments around the country. We also participate in Special Olympics and have been to nationals a few times.

New England Special Olympics 

The Special Olympics programs in New England Region are comprised of 6 states: VT, MA, ME, CT, NH and RI. All programs are part of Special Olympics North America and have the same mission; to provide year round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is a global movement that offers 28 official sports in over 200 countries. The Special Olympics programs in the New England Region are also leaders in Unified Sports programs. Unified Sports places athletes with intellectual disabilities with peers (Unified Partners) who are not disabled. Unified Sports allow our Special Olympic athletes and their  unified partners  to be teammates on the field and friends off the field.

Special Olympics Massachusetts

Special Olympics New Hampshire

Special Olympics Rhode Island

Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Vermont

Special Olympics Maine

Longfellow Tennis & Health Club

Handi-Racket Tennis is an instructional tennis program for people with disabilities. It was founded in 1977 by Laury Hammel, CEO of The Longfellow Club, Wayland, MA. Handi-Racket Tennis offers the opportunity to learn the great game of tennis to a population that might not otherwise have the chance. 

Chapel Haven Adaptive Tennis Program

Chapel Haven provides lifelong individualized services for people with developmental and social disabilities, empowering them to live independent and self-determined lives.

ACEing Autism

Each week participants work on different fundamentals of the game of tennis. Participants have an opportunity to increase their social skills by taking turns, working in teams, and following instructions.

Communitas

Communitas Adaptive tennis program is year-round for ages 10+ for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The program takes 5-7 players to compete at Special Olympics of Massachusetts Summer Games at Harvard in June every year. All participants play regulation tennis rules with adult/peer mentors. 

Love Serving Autism

Love Serving Autism is an adaptive tennis program at the Cambridge Tennis Club in Cambridge, MA. Sessions are 6-weeks for children ages 5-18. We teach specialized therapeutic tennis instruction including fitness, hand-eye coordination, communication and life skills

Combined Programs:

Gaylord Sports Association

We serve individuals ages 16 and up with a permanent physical disability or visual impairment. Our members include people who have experienced a spinal cord injury, amputation, stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, visual impairment, neurological condition, post-traumatic stress disorder and other physical disabilities. Veterans who meet our criteria are encouraged to participate.

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country

Learning how to play tennis is the same for everyone, no matter your ability. Come and learn the proper way to hold the racket, basic strokes and all the extra details that make tennis fun and exciting for players of all abilities! Summer programming takes place at the Franconia Inn. Spring programming takes place at the Tamarack Tennis Camp. Wheelchair tennis lessons are also available upon request.

Marshfield Tennis Club

Wheelchair & Adaptive Tennis - Upon Request and Always FREE! Marshfield Tennis Club has three wheelchairs specifically designed for wheelchair tennis & has 5 wheelchair tennis certified instructors.

For other Wheelchair and Adaptive Tennis opportunities in New England or to be featured on this page, contact Mavi Sanchez-Skakle, head of DEI.

POP-iT Easy Tennis Ball Pick-up Racquet Accessory

Don’t let ball pickup spoil your love of the game. The Pop-iT is an easy to use tennis ball collector that is ideal for new players, seniors, players with limited mobility, and anyone who wants to spare their back from the chore of picking up balls. Click here to learn more or to buy your own POP-iT. 

For more information on Diversity and Inclusion please visit our D&I webpage.