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Tempe, AZ – Working in collaboration with the ITA Student-Athlete Council, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is proud to spotlight another student-athlete in our monthly spotlights that aim to highlight the many diverse backgrounds and communities that make up the sport of college tennis.
With April being Autism Acceptance Month, the ITA is continuing to spotlight student-athletes who have created accepting communities on their campus as directors of ACEing Autism programs on their campuses. This spotlight features Ethan Lee from Pomona Pitzer who has been a leader of an ACEing Autism program on his campus, joining the program three years ago before taking over as program director.
As a student-athlete Lee has balanced being a ACEing Autism program director with the demands of being a team leader on the court. Lee and Pomona Pitzer are currently ranked No. 20 in the ITA Division III Team Rankings while Lee ranks No. 32 in the ITA Singles Rankings.
In this spotlight, Lee will share a little bit about himself and some of his experiences as a ACEing Autism program director as well as special moments and lessons experienced through his time with the program.
See what Lee had to say in this spotlight below:
What inspired you to get involved with ACEing Autism, and how does the program fit into your broader goals for creating more inclusive environments within college tennis?Our location was inspired by two of my closest friends and teammates Rohun Krishnan and Matthew Feng, three years ago. Everyday we have the opportunity to compete on the tennis court: to play the game, learn life lessons, and make friends that will last a lifetime. Through ACEing Autism, we have the incredible opportunity to share our love for the game and our love for people towards a traditionally underserved population. It has become something I am very passionate about and the best part of my week, every week. Through the past three years, this program has developed into an integral part of the identity of what it means to be a member of the Pomona-Pitzer Men’s Tennis team.
We seek to provide a safe environment and an outlet for expression through tennis. Our goal is to help these kids grow physically and socially while building solid relationships and having fun.
What have you learned from your experience in the ACEing Autism program that you apply to your coaching or leadership style within your team?Through ACEing, I’ve rediscovered a love for the game outside the rote monotony of practices and matches that I’ve engaged with my entire life. The energy and genuine excitement brought by both kids and volunteers inspires and motivates us to think creatively. In addition, there is novelty in the social experience, interacting with different people and playing in different ways. Each session brings a new experience and challenge.
How do you think the ACEing Autism program has helped shift the culture of tennis within your college, especially in terms of inclusion and acceptance of athletes with autism?Our volunteer corps consists of individuals from the Pomona-Pitzer Varsity Men’s and Women’s Tennis Team, other varsity athletes across campus, and the 5C Club Tennis team. Through volunteering with ACEing Autism, we have built community among people who love tennis and share values of giving back to the community on our campus. Through consistent interactions with athletes with autism, we have built long-lasting, solid relationships and become kids again, enjoying the oft overlooked everyday things we associate with tennis players. Most of the kids now bring their own racquet!
In what ways do you think the college tennis community could further incorporate autism inclusion and awareness into its culture, both on and off the court?I think first awareness is the biggest thing. People aren’t aware that approximately 5.5 million people in the US (~2.2%) of the population have autism, live with it, and have very normal lives. Autism isn’t a disease that people are infected with but rather a way of life, and people live very normal lives. Partnering with Jensen Brooksby, an American pro tennis player who has autism, would be another good place. I think at ITA indoors, we could also give out an Autism Awareness patch, similar to the NCAA patch given to teams that participate in the NCAA tournament, and have the teams wear them on their jerseys (they normally iron it on). We could also host an ACEing Autism clinic there as well and have the teams volunteer to hit with the kids as a part of it.
What advice would you give to other program directors or coaches within the ITA community who are looking to start their own ACEing Autism programs?If you have the capacity, I would say DO IT! It has been very rewarding to me and changed me in ways I would not have anticipated when I started out. It has become the best part of my week, every week. We are fortunate, with the resources we have, to have the opportunity to serve as a bridge between the autism and tennis community, introducing kids to the game we have the opportunity to play. While planning for and leading the ACEing Autism clinics, I feel energized and motivated to improve my own game.
Looking back on your time with ACEing Autism, what moments or successes stand out to you the most as proof of the program’s positive impact on both the athletes and the tennis community at large?
Being a part of this program for the past three years, my favorite part of my experience with Aceing Autism has been the relationships built and the growth and development observed over time. Through the time spent with the program, I have been able to build fruitful relationships with the kids, as well as the siblings and the parents. We have the opportunity to be a part of the little successes that each kid experiences as well as the physical and social progress along the way. Through my time spent here, the level has developed so much from learning to hit forehands and backhands, to hitting off a tee, to rallying with a coach, to even playing doubles with other kids.
What personal growth have you experienced through your involvement with ACEing Autism, especially in terms of your understanding of autism, inclusion, and working with athletes with diverse needs?When I first started working with ACEing Autism, I wasn’t really familiar with autism itself or with the community of people immersed in it. After graduation, I intend to pursue medical school. Working with ACEing Autism has transformed my definition and purpose of medicine. Medicine not only encapsulates physical healing, but improving the psychological and emotional well-being of others. Medicine is not only about alleviating the physical, tangible pain and suffering of others, but also about empowering them to become the best versions of themselves, treating other with dignity and humanity.
