A JIMBOOMBA tennis school with a strong track record of developing autistic-friendly programs has been presented with a prestigious award at the 2019 Autism Queensland Creative Futures Recognition Awards.
Queensland governor Paul de Jersey presented FuturePros Tennis Academy owners Kiel Linder and AJ Linder-Thompson with the School/Community award at a morning tea at Government House in Brisbane on Tuesday, December 3.
The Jimboomba parents of an autistic child have personal experience when it comes to taking a passionate and understanding approach to coaching tennis.
Both Kiel and AJ were nominated by parents, teachers and carers of children who have reached their full potential.
Erin Sell, who is the mother of two children coached at FuturePros Tennis Academy, said she was proud to see her eldest son would compete at an Australian level in Melbourne next year.
"My eldest is now 12 and has been playing tennis with FuturePros Tennis Academy for seven years. My youngest is 10 and has been with them for five years," she said.
"There is never any judgement, never any discrimination, never any hurdle too big.
"Kiel and (AJ) liaised for months with Tennis Queensland and Tennis Australia to make sure that our players were fully supported with appropriate support strategies such as additional breaks, a chill out room, and rule modifications to allow coaches on court.
"As a result, my eldest son and other players have been invited by Tennis Australia to compete in the Australian Tennis Championships in January 2020.
"This simply would not have been possible without the support of AJ and Kiel. I have no words that can appropriately convey the incredible changes they have been instrumental in making with my children and so many others."
FuturePros Tennis Academy coach AJ Linder-Thompson said she was proud of the progress of many of her students who progressed to compete at the top level over seven years.
"This is very much an area where you have to earn people's trust and receiving an award like this will go a long way towards having more people giving tennis a go and trusting us," she said.
The Autism Queensland Creative Futures Recognition Awards are presented annually to recognise the contribution of people living with autism and those who support them.
FuturePros Tennis Academy was recently honoured at the John Newcombe Tennis Australia Awards for their wheelchair tennis and inclusive tennis programs.
