The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa recently hosted an inspiring blind tennis event featuring renowned coach Dan Aubushon. With the support of the IBTA and USTA Northern California, the event brought together coaches, new players and community members to celebrate inclusivity and the power of adaptive sports.
IBTA representatives led the event, offering demonstrations and coaching sessions. Samir Mahir, IBTA President, emphasized the importance of opportunities for visually impaired athletes.
“Tennis is a sport for everyone,” Mahir said. “We’re breaking barriers and showing that disability doesn’t define ability. The future of blind tennis is bright.”
The success of the Blind Tennis event at JW Marriott Palm Desert Springs highlights the growing interest in adaptive tennis. Dan Aubushon, who is wheelchair bound and fighting multiple medical issues including vision loss, has found a new way of staying involved in the sport he loves; he has a condition called Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy.
“This is just the beginning,” Aubushon remarked. “We’re launching the first blind tennis program in the Indian Wells area to bring the joy of the game to our blind and vision-impaired community.
Stay tuned for future events and opportunities to support adaptive tennis in Southern California! For those interested in getting involved, please contact Dan Aubushon at (760) 333-4688 or email Brian Hudson at bhudson@scta.usta.com.