ACEing Autism, a national non-profit organization, recently made its debut in Charlottesville at the Boar’s Head Resort, offering weekly tennis lessons for children on the autism spectrum from ages 5 to 18. Sessions meet for 2 hours once a week for five weeks. For groups larger than 10, those 2 hour sessions are split into 2 hour-long sessions, divided by age group. Tailored for kids who want to take a swing at a new sport, the program provides an opportunity for children to learn tennis in an environment that also prioritizes the development of social skills.
Beginning in early September, the organization has begun to foster an atmosphere of energy and inclusion to Boar’s Head Resort courts. With eight participants and roughly 30 volunteers signed up, the program had 5 sessions this fall with plans to host 6 in the spring. The chapter is led by third-year College student Mia Seltman and second-year Medicine student Wesley Ravich. The pair founded the Charlottesville chapter of the national organization this fall with the help of Boar’s Head Resort to provide the court space.
Varying ages, personalities and skills of the program’s participants require different education tactics. With roughly a 2-to-1 volunteer to participant ratio, the program allows for a focus on activities, games and learning opportunities that work uniquely for each child. As a learning experience for volunteers and participants alike, Seltman noted the importance of making adjustments to their schedules session to session to ensure each child’s needs are met most effectively.
“Each kid is so different … [W]e definitely saw some challenges today with emotions with the games, but now we know … so now we'll have a better idea of what to do next time,” Seltman said.
Volunteers for the program include University and the larger Charlottesville community members, fostering connections between participants and volunteers of varying backgrounds. According to Ravich, these connections allow for guidance in an informal, comfortable setting.
“[T]here's kind of like a soft mentorship, where the kids really look up to a lot of our students, especially with so many of our [volunteers] being from U.Va.,” Ravich said.
Troy Porco, head tennis professional at Boar’s Head Resort, assists with coordination between Boar’s Head Resort and ACEing Autism. According to Ravich, Porco’s assistance with the logistics and commencement of the program reflect the support from the larger Charlottesville community.
“[W]e really couldn't do this without our community kind of coming together. And it's really amazing to see how supportive everyone has been,” Ravich said.
In each session, they are presented with opportunities to learn tactics for regulating their emotions, navigating social interactions and, of course, swinging a racket.
“It's not just tennis … The kids involved are learning so many soft social skills,” Ravich said. “I think by participating in tennis, they're kind of forced to be in a setting that's teaching them some really good life lessons that will hopefully not only build a passion for tennis, but also help them in the rest of their daily lives.”
While each session entails a one- to two-hour long tennis lesson, exercises of social skills are also emphasized along with each racket swing. The benefit to participants is multifaceted, as Seltman reflected on the ability for the organization to increase healthy opportunities for underrepresented groups, while also tackling larger societal stigma.
“Sports should be something that everyone can be a part of, especially as it's a great way to better your life in so many different ways, socially, health wise, and create so many opportunities in life,” Seltman said. “[I am] very passionate about increasing opportunities for everyone … and also decreasing the stigma of those with disabilities.”
According to Porco, providing support as a partner to the organization allows for the opportunity to give back in a way that benefits all involved. Volunteering through the organization lends that same opportunity. The energy radiates between participants and volunteers, as the dedication from both parties creates an enthusiastic atmosphere driven by learning, giving and connection.
Despite occasional struggles, the feedback from participants and their families was resoundingly positive. In comparing the skill and morale boost amongst participants, Seltman found that kids were visibly excited that their skills were improving. This improvement comes from the hard work of participants and volunteers alike, brought together by the sport. Reflecting on an anecdote from a parent of a participant, Seltman emphasized the impact of just one session.
“One of the moms also said, within five minutes of being there … ‘I have never seen him actually listen to instructions like he has before’ … They see themselves succeed so quickly and improve so quickly,” Seltman said.
While the organization is not officially a CIO at the University at this point, Seltman reflected on her aspirations of partnering with Madison House in the future.
“[I]t's harder to start at a larger school, because there are many kids who want to start new things,” Seltman said. “So hopefully, now that it is established here in Charlottesville, I'm working with Madison House on having it be under the Madison House umbrella.”
Regardless of the program's lack of official CIO status, the excitement around ACEing Autism in Charlottesville displays the impact of the program, and the spirit is contagious — each serve and volley serves as encouragement, turning each session into a celebration of both physical and emotional growth.
“I think when you see young people with smiles on their face, and they're hitting a ball and they're just having fun … All of us, go back to when we were kids, where it's a pure emotion there of just enjoying something,” Porco said.
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