CASSELBERRY, Fla. — Judi Erickson and her best friend Julia Balson are tennis fanatics. They also teach the sport to kids on the autism spectrum.
What You Need To Know
- Women teach kids with autism, other special needs all about tennis
- Program is a partnership with Posh Rock Tennis Foundation and Seminole County Parks and Recreation
- The program has made a difference in the lives of the kids and their families
Erickson joined the U.S. Tennis Association several years ago where she got connected with John Richards, the CEO of the nonprofit youth development organization Posh Rock Tennis Foundation.
He tapped her to teach the program at Red Bug Lake Park in Casselberry, and she got her friend to join.
Erickson designed a schedule for the kids, which is intense at times, but is working like a charm. Sam Rebarber is one of the kids she teaches. He joined Posh Rock in March 2024.
“When we first arrived, he was very unfocused. He gets distracted easily. He played the basic tennis and he knew some of the strokes,” said Sam’s mother, Linh Rebarber.
She said Sam represented Seminole County in the area Special Olympics with individual tennis skills and won first place. What’s also remarkable is that Sam was non-verbal when he first joined, but now he is able to communicate a few words, which warms Erickson’s heart.
Posh Rock Tennis Foundation started in 2017. They pay for the kids’ classes and help fund the equipment.
