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We are a group of tennis enthusiasts dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some of us are parents, volunteers, caregivers or experienced tennis professionals, all united by this common purpose .
Abilities Tennis Association of North Carolina (ATANC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the adapted sport of tennis . Spending time on the courts helps our athletes develop vital social skills, develop independence, forge friendships, increase physical and mental health, build confidence, and realize their unique potential.
Two parents and a tennis coach founded ATANC in 2007 with the goal to create a year-round tennis program for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Collaborating with the NC Tennis Association, they launched one clinic in the Raleigh area. Today, ATANC hosts six tournaments and offers free clinics and programs in more than 30 locations across the state. All programming is free of charge to our participants.
Our mission is to promote fitness, foster community, and champion inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the adapted sport of tennis.
Our athletes are ages 8 and up, come from different backgrounds, and have varying abilities. Thanks to community collaboration and support from grants and generous donations, all programming is free of charge .

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Events — Abilities Tennis Association of North Carolina

Lou Welch

Nancy Steed

Sometimes it’s a hit. Sometimes it’s a miss. Either way it’s a WIN at clinic with Coach Kristin! #adaptiveathlete #adaptivesports #inclusion

🚨NEW RAFFLE ITEM ADDED🚨 Did you know that the iconic tennis bracelet earned its name thanks to tennis legend Chris Evert? During a match at the US Open, her diamond bracelet famously broke and fell onto the court, bringing play to a halt while she searched for it. And just like that, a jewelry legend was born! Now it’s your chance to serve up some sparkle for a great cause! This stunning 14-karat rose gold tennis bracelet features 1 carat total weight of dazzling diamonds. Timeless, elegant, and effortlessly beautiful, it’s a piece you’ll treasure for years to come. And the best part? Every raffle ticket supports Abilities Tennis Association of NC, helping athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience the joy, confidence, and community that tennis brings. A WINNING COMBINATION! You can get your raffle tickets NOW by tapping the OneCause link in our story today, tapping the Footprints Highlight above, or visit ATANC.org and navigate to Footprints. #shopforacause #adaptedsports #tennis

Our annual Footprints on the Court Tournament and Gala at Carolina Country Club is coming up next week and we want to thank the Sponsors who make it possible! Please scroll and join us in showering them with gratitude. 🙏💕 Our Champion Sponsor Special thanks to Debbie and John for their support over the past 18 years! Debbie is one of the organization’s founders and their consistent support is meaningful in many ways. Our Coach Sponsors Our Ace Sponsors Our Partner Sponsors

In case you missed it! Thank you to @wralkensmith for interviewing our Executive Director, Lou Welch, for @wral — helping us to raise awareness and remind everyone that Footprints on the Court is just about a week away! Don’t miss out, get your tickets at ATANC.org today!! #idd #adaptedtennis #

Buckle up! Here are a few things you can expect at our Footprints on the Court Gala’s LIVE auction! Hurry and grab those tickets now at ATANC.org! 🌴7 nights at Orchid Condominium in Conchas Chinas, Puerto Vallarta, MX. Unit is 2BR/2.5BA (BR1 King & BR2 2 Queens) with stunning ocean and city views. Building has pools, gym, rooftop restaurant and bar with room service available. 🥃Bring home everything you need to recreate Julian Van Winkle’s signature cocktail, The Vanhattan—including his personal recipe, the very one he has made for friends in Raleigh many times. 🍷4 day stay at the Kobler Estate Vineyard, located in Sebastopol, CA. Enjoy curated tastings with Mike Kobler, and Tony Lombardi and his Lombardi Wines. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at The Madrona in Healdsburg and take home a mixed case of Kobler Estate and Lombardi wines. An intimate, insider experience you won’t forget! 🏔️Escape to the heart of downtown Asheville for a luxurious three-night stay in a stunning two-bedroom, two-bath condo! Enjoy breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountain views from an expansive private terrace with a cozy fire table. Just steps from Asheville’s incredible restaurants, breweries, galleries, and shopping, this beautiful retreat offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Your package includes Biltmore Estate grounds admission and a guided house tour for two! 🎿Weekend getaway in Blowing Rock! Chipmunk Lodge is located on Flat Top Mountain across from App Ski just 5 minutes from downtown Blowing Rock and 5 minutes from Boone. Gorgeous views and sleeps up to 10. Perfect for a family ski trip with the little ones, a long weekend or a mid week respite. 🎾Spend two days learning from 17-time Grand Slam champion Gigi Fernandez at an exclusive tennis camp in Indian Wells during the 2028 BNP Paribas Open! This package includes 9 hours of on-court instruction over two days, with your camp session matched to the purchaser’s NTRP rating, plus two lunches during the camp.

North Carolina State University’s Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams will host the 18th Annual Abilities Tennis Association of North Carolina’s Winter Chill Tennis Tournament on December 5th! SCHEDULE 9:00-9:30 am Athletes Registration 8:45-9:15 am Volunteer Sign-In 9 :15 am Volunteer Training 9:30 am Welcome from NCSU Coaches Simon Earnshaw and Kyle Spencer and Lou Welch, Executive Director of ATANC 9:45 am Play Begins! NCSU tennis players will be refereeing the matches! 12:00-1:30 pm Lunch (staggered format) 1:30- 3:00 pm Play Continues! 3:00-3:30 pm Closing Ceremony Athletes can choose to play Skills Court, Short Court, or Full Court. This is a doubles tournament. We will place Abilities athletes together as partners. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a mini clinic put on by the NC State University women’s and men’s tennis teams. ❄️ SIGN UP TODAY at ATANC.org ❄️

Thanks to Marta for supporting our Mint Hill Clinics!! Registration is still open so if you’re in the area go to ATANC.org and sign up!! 🤗 #adaptedsports #adaptedtennis #adaptiveathlete

This week, the USTA National Campus hosted the National IDD Singles Tournament, featuring sixteen adapted athletes selected from across the country. Their level of play, sportsmanship, and determination made this event truly special. USTA Southern was strongly represented with five athletes in the draw, and we’re proud to congratulate Rachel Sweatt, a 5.0 USTA‑rated player, on capturing the national singles title. Craig Pippert, Director of Sports Development with Special Olympics and Evan Enquist, USTA Director of Adapted Tennis, spoke about the new three‑year partnership between the two organizations, with the MOU officially signed during this tournament. Samantha Crawford, Executive Director of AAPITA, and our very own Lou Welch, Tournament Director, presented awards to all 16 athletes on one of the stadium courts at the USTA Campus. The momentum continues as we head into the Unified Doubles National Championship. Stay tuned for more inspiring tennis! #USTA #AdaptiveTennis #IDDtennis #USTASouthern #USTANationalCampus InclusionInSports

Clinic in Wake Forest, special thanks to @davidmarquina78 for his coaching and leadership! #wakeforest #tennisisforeveryone #inclusion

So much joy at our Charlotte clinics, hosted by Aldersgate Methodist Church! Big thanks to Coach Shu and Kate for their time and talent. 🙏💕

Matthew represented ATANC at the Adaptive Sectional Tournament in Memphis, and he did such an outstanding job!! Comment 👏👏👏to congratulate him!!

Kayla from our Belmont clinics recently celebrated her Senior Day. She is the team manager and you can see that she is so happy and proud.🥰 Kayla started with ATANC clinics 5 years ago and now has a huge group of friends at school, evidence that tennis is about more than just tennis—it inspires confidence and builds community!! #tennisisforeveryone #tennis

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!! Head over to ATANC.org/footprintsonthecourt to get your gala tickets before prices go up on October 15th!! It’s going to be awesome and we can’t wait to see you!! 🥂💕 #footprintsonthecourt2026 #footprintsonthecourt

We had more than 30 people show up for our Volunteer Training at North Hills Club yesterday!! 💕 Thank you NHC for hosting, and thank you to groups from Boys Team Charity Oak City and National Charity leagues — and to all the others who showed up for our program. We appreciate you so much!! #tennisisforeveryone #volunteers #adaptedtennis

We had a great group training at Smithfield-Selma High School today!! Say hello to these fantastic kids who are learning to work with our amazing athletes!👋💕

What a blast we had at Fuquay-Varina clinic with @tenniswithcoachjess yesterday!! Camden caught the ball during a point😄and Nia made matching best friends bracelets for Olivia and exchange student Emma. Smiles for miles!!!!! #nctennis

Y’ALL!!!👏👏👏What an amazing evening we had with you last night at the beautiful Carolina Country Club! We’ll be sharing more later, but it was one for the record books and we couldn’t have done it without YOU, our amazing community. We are so very thankful for your love and support and look forward to the many exciting opportunities ahead for our program and for our athletes. #footprints2025

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