Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day With Tennis

WAYLAND, MA- April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, and USTA New England is lucky to be at the birthplace of one of the world’s largest tennis programs dedicated to bringing the sport to children with autism. ACEing Autism is a volunteer-based non-profit founded in Boston in 2009 by Richard Spurling, whose mission is to connect children with autism through its unique tennis program to develop and advance proven methods that positively impact the children, families, and communities it serves.

The organization launched its first program at the Longfellow Club in Wayland, MA with just 15 kids and has since grown to 70 cities and one in the United Kingdom.

ACEing Autism provides weekly tennis clinics where participants work on different fundamentals of the game of tennis. Participants will have an opportunity to increase their social skills through taking turns, working in teams, and following instructions.  

A group of dedicated volunteers leads the clinics each week, which include a group warm up, hand-eye coordination drills, racquet skills, volleys, groundstrokes and group games.

Longfellow Wayland is currently seeking all types of volunteers for its program.

Volunteer opportunities are open to high school or college players/coaches, tennis enthusiasts, special education teachers, ABA therapists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and anyone hoping to create a difference in their community.

Volunteering for ACEing Autism is a chance to gain valuable experience helping children on the autism spectrum improve their social skills and physical fitness.

Volunteers should be caring, energetic people and are asked to serve two hours each weekend. Knowing how to play tennis is not a prerequisite to volunteering.

Community service credit is offered to those who attend all of the clinics in a session.

To learn more about volunteering with ACEing Autism, click here.

To register to volunteer, click here.