Love Serving Autism

SPRING 2019 – Lisa Pugliese, a Speech-Language Pathologist and a USPTA Certified Tennis Professional, is the founder and CEO of Love Serving Autism (LSA). LSA is a non-profit organization that lovingly teaches children and adults on the Autism Spectrum how to play tennis. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Pugliese is a former collegiate tennis player at Duke University and the University of Florida. For 14 years, she has specialized in the evaluation and treatment of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Every 11 minutes, a child is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, including one in 59 children in the United States (one in 43 boys and one in 189 girls). Pugliese states, “Our focus in 2019 is to continue to provide this specialized therapeutic tennis instruction to children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders across Palm Beach County. Our big vision is to build a therapeutic tennis center for the children and adults with special needs. They will receive tennis training, speech, occupational and physical therapy services, as well as life skills instruction.”

The mission of Love Serving Autism is to better serve individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Challenges to promote self-love and functional independence within the community. Several benefits children experience while learning to play tennis include improved gross and fine motor skills, increase in fitness levels, and reduced stress.

It is very challenging for parents of children with special needs to find sports activities that suit their needs and increase their self-confidence. Not only does LSA help these children and adults to flourish cognitively, but also physically and socially as well.  

To learn more about LSA tennis programs, volunteer, and donation opportunities, visit loveservingautism.org or follow Love Serving Autism on social media.