Celebrating Disability Pride Month: Why Volunteers Love to Support Adaptive Tennis

Disability Pride Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, achievements, and abilities of individuals with disabilities. Today, we highlight the incredible efforts of volunteers from across the state who are dedicating their time to adaptive tennis, ensuring that athletes with different disabilities can enjoy and excel in this wonderful sport.  

For Sharon Holloway, her journey into coaching began with a simple act of volunteering, motivated by her son’s participation in the Special Olympics. “My son actually got me started,” she said. “It began with me being a volunteer, and then I was asked to coach, and it pretty much came naturally for me.” Her dedication to coaching has not only enhanced her son’s skills and impacted his focus, but also his friends and teammates who play tennis together. 

“The focus level, the dedication from season to season, year after year is great to see,” she said. “Just watching the glimpses of how they mentally and emotionally grow, realizing their true talent, it all comes from what they’re doing on the court.”  

Another coach from Lee County, Sue Mellentine, also got involved because of her child. Sue’s daughter is a Special Olympic athlete and competes across the state. Sue loves helping her, and her teammates develop as players and humans at their own pace. 

Sue Mellentine (left) loves to help these athletes develop both on and off the courts.

The Binkley family volunteered at the Special Olympics in 2024 for the first time, and they loved being able to support these athletes at this event. “It’s great to see the excitement from all the athletes here,” said Brandon Binkley. “They’ve worked so hard to get here, and seeing the joy on their faces is an absolute pleasure to be around.”  

Sally Hale, a coach in Osceola County loves to help kids in their community. She first got involved with coaching and volunteering because the Special Olympics team in her community didn’t have a coach. She knew she had to step up and give these athletes the opportunity they deserve.  

In Collier County, JC Schecter volunteers his time, inspired by his brother’s participation in the Special Olympics. “Getting to see these athletes displaying their ability instead of their disability is amazing,” he said. “They’re definitely competitive but they have fun still and as long as they’re having a good time it’s great to have them outside exercising and competing.” 

JC Schecter loves to support these athletes and watch them compete.

USTA CEO, Lew Sherr, volunteered at the Special Olympic State Games in 2023 and 2024 and call it his “favorite day of the year.” He loves seeing the smiles on the athletes’ faces as they enjoy a game that is for everyone. “The opportunity to give something back is a great honor in life and to do it as a part of an organization with colleagues and friends and make a difference in the community is a great feeling.” 

Adaptive tennis provides athletes with disabilities the opportunity to engage in a sport that promotes physical fitness, teamwork, and personal growth. Without the volunteers and coaches supporting these athletes and organizing the sport, there wouldn’t be adaptive tennis.  

In celebration of Disability Pride Month, you can get involved with adaptive tennis. Visit ustaflorida.com/adaptive to learn about the organizations in Florida who offer Adaptive Tennis programs and ways you can get involved.