Nonprofit organization ACEing Autism will hold tennis clinics at UNC Charlotte beginning Sunday, Sept. 30.
According to Nils Weldy, marketing director for the organization, ACEing Autism is a national nonprofit that provides tennis clinics specially designed by autism and tennis professionals to encourage social interaction between peers and volunteers, improve physical fitness and allow for flexibility within the clinics to ensure children have fun.
He added, “Partnering with UNC Charlotte not only allows us to serve families from the University and surrounding area, it raises ACEing Autism’s profile among the school’s researchers, athletes and alumni to improve the lives of kids with autism and grow the sport of tennis. We are grateful to be endorsed by the men’s and women’s tennis teams and look forward to building lasting and meaningful relationships across the University.”
Clinics will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Sept. 30; Oct. 6 (Saturday), 14, 21 and 28; and Nov. 3 (Saturday); at the Halton-Wagner Tennis Complex.
Participants will be grouped by age and paired with volunteers on two courts and led through a group warm-up, hand-eye coordination drills, introduction of a tennis skill, group game and final cheer to celebrate the session. Email aceingautismuncc@gmail.com for participant and volunteer registration.
ACEing Autism was founded in Boston in 2008 by Richard Spurling, a tennis professional with an MBA in entrepreneurship, and Shafali Jeste, a pediatric neurologist, who was practicing at Children’s Hospital Boston at the time.