The Sound of Tennis

Court 16, in Brooklyn and Long Island City New York, has a tennis program specifically “designed for individuals with varying degrees of blindness and skill levels, the program applies a specialized curriculum and adaptive equipment – sound balls made of foam and smaller, modified courts with tactile lines – in a safe and inclusive environment. Court 16 and its partner, Helen Keller Services for the Blind, have teamed up to offer two-hour sessions that include both tennis moves and personal fitness lessons through HKSB’s Health and Wellness program for adults who are not in school and range in age from 19 to 65. The Health and Wellness program began in Brooklyn, and through the generosity of funders has expanded to two locations on Long Island. HKSB clients apply for the program and receive an assessment with a social worker. The program, which moved online during COVID-19, includes creative arts, nutrition advice and dance movement therapy among its offerings.