HEALTH COACH - The tennis player with autism cuts competition

HEALTH COACH -

 The tennis player with autism cuts competition  
 But nothing of what counts once she scored on the court. 
 
 Sport has opened a whole new world for the 26 year old athlete with autism. 
 
 "People accept me for who I am, and what I can do," she told CNN. 
 
 
 "J & # 39; like ... beat the men," she said with a laugh 
 
 
 A difficult battle 
 
 
 When Brittany was a baby, her mother noticed that she did not reach development markers like other children her age 
. 
 
 "Every time I went to the pediatrician, they said," Do not worry, do not worry. Some babies are later, "said her mother, Catherine Tagliareni. 
 
 Britain has never learned to stammer or crawl. At 2 years old, she was diagnosed with a generalized developmental disorder. 
 
 "I was expecting her to do the same things as any other baby. He was going to take it a little longer, "said his mother. 
 
 Brittany also received a diagnosis of a hearing treatment disorder and motor control problems caused by apraxia and Dyspraxia. 
 
 She did not say her first word until her age of 6. 
 
 But it took three more years for her parents to get a diagnosis More definitive. 
 
 "It was only after 9 years that we heard the word" autism ", recalled his mother. "That was one of those things," Well, now, what am I doing? "... But that was the same girl, the same therapies." 
 
 Getting the court 
 
 
 Growing up in Orlando, Florida, Brittany looked at her brother. 
 
 "I've always liked to do the same things my brother did," she said. 
 
 "When A.J. started tennis, Brittany wanted to start tennis," said his mother. "But I said," I have to let you help you first. And then, if we can hit you with bullets through the net, I'll put you in lessons. "
 
 Brittany was 18 when she first took a racket. With patient coaching and a lot of repetition, she started to improve. On and off the court. 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
" Before Tennis, she was going to a school class at home one day a week, and she was not talking to anyone, "said her mother. "She really did not have any social life at all. She had no friends." 
 
 She would also go into what her mother called "Autistic Land." 
 
 "It takes a lot for her to leave somewhere and carry on a conversation," said her mother. It is much easier for her to go to her room and "talk to the air", listen to music or go to the computer and not have to deal with these problems. "
 
 But tennis gave him the motivation to improve his social skills. 
 
" The girls went and said, "I want to be like you," said his mother. , She was like "Wow, it 's really cool." 
 
 When she plays in special Olympics competitions, she' s partnering with men Because it is usually in the top division. 
 
 "She likes to beat the guys," said her mother. 
 
 Brittany also participates in international tournaments through Athletes Without Limits. In 2014, she was the top woman in her division at INAS (International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sports) World Tennis Championships in Mont-de-Marsan, France. 
 
 "I am very happy to play tennis because it is fun and I like fame and fortune," said Brittany with a smile. 
 
 Vladimir Obradovic, his tennis coach, said that she always brings a positive attitude to the court. 
 
 "She is a source of inspiration for me every day ... she is very sporty". 
 
 
 
 
 Obradovic said that he had seen a considerable improvement in his skills. 
 
 "The first lesson we had, there were 60 balls in the basket, and all 60 balls went past the fence," he said. "Four years later, she is participating in Florida money events with people without any disabilities." 
 
 The sport has allowed him to exceed expectations, said his mother. 
 
 "When she was young, you always heard professionals:" She will not be able to do that. She will not be able to do that. "But they never said what she could do," her mother added. "Being there and being able to be more independent ... it changed his life forever"