Making Tennis Available To Everyone
What is Para Standing Tennis ?
Para-standing tennis is an accessible sport for people with physical disabilities who want to play tennis without using a wheelchair.
Para-standing tennis is open to anyone with amputated limbs, brain injuries, cerebral palsy, and short-statured people. Para-standing tennis is a growing pathway recognized by the ITF and other national tennis federations.
What is Para Standing Tennis DMV ?
Para-Standing Tennis DMV is an organization that promotes opportunities for para-standing players in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area (DMV).
The DMV has a large and dynamic tennis community, however, there are very few opportunities for para-standing players who would prefer to play standing. Our organization is focused on fostering a deep sense of community while expanding opportunities for para-standing players. We host free clinics and provide hitting partners, court time, and other resources for para-standing players. We also welcome partnerships with individuals and organizations who support tennis and the para-standing community. Partnerships with organizations such as tennis and rehabilitation facilities, along with those interested in health, wellness, inclusivity, and equity are welcome and appreciated.
Americans with Disabilities
Up to 1 in every 4 Americans lives with a disability that impacts everyday life.
12.1% of Americans have difficulty with mobility and around 2 million individuals have a prosthetic limb. Despite predictions of the increasing prevalence of limb loss by 2050, athletics remain largely inaccessible to people with disabilities impacting mobility. Unfortunately, people with disabilities have limited opportunities to participate in athletics, despite the significance of playing sports in terms of physical well-being and social connection.
Our Action Plan
Our goal is to foster and grow the community of adaptive tennis players and coaches through:
Providing resources (including court time and tennis balls specially designed for para-standing players);
Building partnerships with local tennis organizations and advocates;
Raising funds to support adaptive tennis programming in the DMV area;
Hosting and organizing clinics and competitive tournaments from para-standing players.