TENAFLY—ACEing Autism has expanded in the area with its newest program at the Kaplen JCC, bringing affordable and impactful tennis programming to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This initiative is allowing children aged 5–18 to develop their tennis skills, improve fitness, and engage in meaningful social connections in a supportive and inclusive environment.
The program is held at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 E. Clinton Ave. Media were invited to attend the final session on Sunday, Oct. 20 to see firsthand the benefits of tennis for children with ASD and to cover the program’s awards ceremony.
Steve Rogers, CEO of Kaplen JCC, said in a press statement shared with Northern Valley Press, “The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is welcoming to all and deeply values its strong commitment to inclusion. The ACEing Autism program is perfectly aligned with the Center’s mission. We are thrilled that Sam Zausner brought this program to our attention.”
Richard Spurling, a founder and the CEO of ACEing Autism, added, “We are excited to continue to expand ACEing Autism’s tennis program in Tenafly and in the state of New Jersey and provide a space where children with ASD can not only learn tennis but also benefit from the physical and social engagement that sports offer.”
And Sam Zausner, 16-year-old program director for the Tenafly program at the Kaplen JCC, said, “This has been an incredible set of sessions and we feel privileged to be able to run it at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. New Jersey has such a high population of neurodiverse kids, and it is awesome to be able to combine my love of tennis with helping others. We were able to gather a great group of participants and volunteers, at a great venue, and together we all really care about making an impact on our community.”
Susan Marenoff-Zausner is the parent program director for the program. Susan is also president of the Intrepid Museum in New York City, which offers a robust set of programs serving the neurodiverse population. “Sam and Eli (her 14-year-old son who also works for the program) have witnessed how our family believes in giving back and carried this on in several ways. I am so proud to watch them run this program. I think they are positively impacted as much as our community is.”
ACEing Autism’s curriculum was developed by Spurling, a tennis professional with a degree in international business and an MBA in entrepreneurship, along with Dr. Shafali Jeste, a renowned autism researcher and pediatric neurologist. The program is designed to help children on the autism spectrum develop motor skills, increase fitness, and foster meaningful social interactions—all while enjoying the game of tennis. Trained program directors and volunteers lead participants through the curriculum. Program directors meet athletes where they are and progress through our curriculum at their pace.
About ACEing Autism:
ACEing Autism is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) grow, develop, and benefit from social connections and fitness through affordable tennis programming. Sports can often be difficult for children with ASD to access, but ACEing Autism bridges this gap with a specialized curriculum. Since its founding, ACEing Autism has positively impacted thousands of families across the U.S. ACEing Autism says it strives to keep costs affordable for families and can provide an ACEing Autism to families in financial need.