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Coronavirus Florida: Tennis program for students with autism has become a virtual smash

Palm Beach Post - 5/15/2020

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Like many organizations that were forced to adjust their operations amid the coronavirus pandemic, Love Serving Autism moved its programming to a virtual platform.

The nonprofit organization, which provides specialized therapeutic tennis instruction to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, began holding weekly sessions over Zoom in April.

Since then, dozens of students have participated in the classes, which have been modified for home instruction.

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"When I first opened the class, I thought I wouldn't have many children sign up," said Lisa Pugliese, Love Serving Autism's founder and a certified tennis professional. "But we had 40 families sign up for the April class. It's been relatively popular."

During a regular Love Serving Autism class, students across 14 locations in Palm Beach and Broward counties participate in a variety of exercises including running, jumping, stretching, hitting and balance.

Classes are designed to provide students with physical and cognitive developmental tools, while also building self-esteem through peer interaction and socialization, said Pugliese, a speech therapist who lives in Delray Beach.

"We really emphasize a lot of gross motor skills while also teaching fine motor skills, which is a lot of hand-eye coordination like racket dribbling," she said. "We teach social skills and language skills by working on character development. We try to engage them on a social level.

"What we teach in tennis, our goal is to generalize those skills into the school environment, and the home and community setting."

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David Schneider, 22, a Palm Beach Gardens resident, has been taking Love Serving Autism classes at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center for over a year.

The program has helped him learn teamwork, sportsmanship and cooperation, said his mom, Denise Schneider.

"He enjoys connecting with his friends, and gets a great workout with the physical activities and exercises demonstrated in the classes," Denise Schneider said. "Lisa has invited friends and colleagues to teach the class, so the participants are exposed to a variety of philosophies and approaches to training."

Like many other LSA students, David Schneider has been taking classes virtually since the pandemic shut down the program two months ago.

Virtual classes are held Saturday at 11 a.m. for a mix of skill levels, and Sunday at 11 a.m. for more advanced students.

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The classes, which run for 45 minutes, include greetings, character development traits, warm-up exercises, stretching, hand-eye skills, stroke production and a group cheer.

Participants use dustpans and wooden spoons as tennis racket replacements, while balloons, bean bags and small balls are being used in lieu of tennis balls.

"We take what we do on the tennis court, and we modify it for the home," Pugliese said.

The classes have become so popular that Pugliese might continue them once students are allowed to return to the tennis court.

"Virtual tennis will kind of be like that safe place for families to log in and do tennis from home, which I think will be great for them," she said.

Love Serving Autism, which has partnered with the United States Tennis Association to offer the new Net Generation Tennis At Home initiative, will host an XGLOsive Virtual Glow in the Dark Tennis event May 22 from 9 to 9:45 p.m.

To RSVP, visit www.yot.me/parties/8976.

For more information:

Florida Department of Health coronavirus web page

CDC coronavirus web page

– Florida DOH coronavirus hotline (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday) is 866-779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov

jwagner@pbpost.com

@JRWagner5

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