Teen brings national tennis program for special needs kids to Hotchkiss

LAKEVILLE — The private Hotchkiss School is launching a new tennis club in early September, introducing a five-week course at the Mars Athletic Center that offers specialized therapeutic tennis instruction for participants ages 5 to 18 with autism spectrum disorders.

The program, initiated by 17-year-old Eleni Kontokosta, a senior and outstanding tennis player, is a collaboration between the school and an accredited national nonprofit organization, ACEing Autism.

According to its mission statement, the organization’s goal is to “help children with autism grow, develop and benefit from social connections and fitness through affordable tennis programs that uniquely meet individual needs while filling a national gap for this growing and underserved population.”

Since its founding in 2008, the organization has evolved into a volunteer-driven program that, from 2022 to 2023, held 131 programs and saw 3,578 registrations across 27 states with an ACEing Autism location. Lakeville is the fourth established program location in Connecticut, following Ellington, North Haven, and Farmington Valley.

While the organization currently has about 20 community programs operating in schools across the country, including in North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey and about 10 in Southern California, “The Hotchkiss School is unique in that it is the first boarding school that will be operating a program for us,” said Richard Spurling, the organization’s founder and executive director.

“We are delighted that the school has recognized our program as an official club and we have several teachers overseeing the program,” he explained, noting that Kontokosta has been appointed as program director.

The senior said the combination of her love of tennis, which she has played since she could pick up a racket as a toddler, and her drive to make the sport accessible to children with autism inspired her to set up a local ACEing Autism program.

She hopes to create a fun environment where participants can get socially involved while learning something new and getting a healthy dose of exercise, as well as improving their coordination, focus and concentration.

The five-week program at the Mars Athletic Center begins Sept. 8 and ends Oct. 6. The one-hour sessions are held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $120, with a $30 discount if you register by Aug. 8.

Kontokosta said participants of all abilities and levels of the spectrum are invited to attend, that no previous tennis experience is necessary and that each child is matched with a volunteer based on his or her individual needs. Parents are encouraged to relax during the sessions while their children make new friends and have fun.

“We hope to start with six to 10 participants, and there are also scholarships available if a family needs financial help,” the program director explained. “This is really an introduction to the sport,” and the benefits go beyond skill by improving participants’ hand-eye coordination and motor skills.

“It’s good for concentration, social skills, fitness and exercise,” Kontokosta noted.

Last year, research from the US Centers for Disease Control found that nearly a third of children with autism are seriously overweight, compared to 13 percent of typically developing children.

ACEing Autism requires that each site have at least two leaders to provide the best support possible. Additionally, all high school program directors must have at least one adult co-leader on and off the field.

The co-leader at Hotchkiss is Maja Clark, the coach of the women’s tennis team, according to Kontokosta, who has played on the women’s team since her freshman year and will be captain for two years starting in her senior year.

She said she’s been busy this summer getting the program up and running, including recruiting volunteers. While this is her first time working with people with special needs, she and team leaders are looking forward to upcoming trainings for members of the organization, including virtual and in-person autism and curriculum training.

“I’ve been preparing this summer with a group of ACEing Autism members, preparing for all the different things I need to do,” including spreading the word about the new program and reaching out to families of children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). She said she’s also reaching out to local school districts and youth organizations in hopes of recruiting participants for the program in September.

ACEing Autism provides all necessary equipment, such as rackets, mini-nets, balls, hoppers, shirts and medals. Liability insurance is also taken out and support on the court is provided if necessary.

According to the organization’s vision statement, it aims to be the “preeminent thought leader on how tennis and sports help children with autism spectrum disorder thrive by reaching 50 percent of the 1+ million families in the autism community.”
“I’m really excited to take this opportunity to teach kids — who may not have as much access to tennis resources — how to play the sport. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of tennis resources growing up, so I hope I can use my 14 years of experience to put it to good use.”

Meanwhile, her quest to recruit volunteers and attract participants is in full swing, and she thanks the school administration and faculty for their support and encouragement.

Kontokosta is optimistic about the future and says the ACEing Autism Club will become a permanent feature of Hotchkiss.
“I’m not sure if I’m going to play tennis in college, but this is something I want to do to make sure that tennis has a really big purpose in my life. Even if I leave Hotchkiss, it’s something I can pass on.”

For more information or to register or volunteer, contact Eleni Kontokosta at [email protected]. For more information about ACEing Autism, visit https://aceingautism.org