Adrienne Bransky, our distinguished VIP Award honoree, champions her son’s initiative to introduce tennis to children with autism.
by Karyn Brodsky
Dallas resident and mother Adrienne Bransky intimately understands the value of learning for children with autism.
Her 14-year-old son, Josh, is on the autism spectrum. When her eldest son Matthew, now 17, approached her about founding a local branch of ACEing Autism, a program dedicated to improving the lives of children and families affected by autism through tennis, Adrienne jumped at the chance to support him.
At the time of Josh’s diagnosis at just 14 months old, Adrienne was a busy young mother and corporate professional. She and her husband, Aaron, a medical resident, faced a challenging landscape of scarce knowledge about autism, encountering conflicting information from various healthcare providers.
After relocating to Dallas, Adrienne chose to leave her corporate job and join Aaron in his medical practice, allowing her to spend more time at home with their three children and focus on Josh’s needs. Beyond her motherly duties, she invested her energy into researching autism and advocating for Josh’s treatment, connecting with professionals to ensure he received appropriate therapies to enhance his communication and social abilities. The Branskys became active members of autism organizations like Autism Speaks, raising awareness and forming connections with other parents who shared similar struggles. “Autism has been a significant part of our family’s journey for many years,” she reflects. “We experienced so much with Josh and felt compelled to give back.”
Inspired by their parents, Matthew and their daughter Sarah are eager to contribute to autism awareness efforts. When Sarah, then five, set up a lemonade stand unaware of the challenges involved, Adrienne found it amusing given their cul-de-sac location. “Who was going to come by?” she recalls. With Adrienne’s encouragement, they secured a spot at a local grocery store, and for six consecutive years, Sarah has raised approximately $1000 annually.
When Matthew, now a junior at Parish Episcopal School, expressed his desire to fulfill his school’s community service requirement by launching ACEing Autism in Dallas, Adrienne was fully on board. Together, they obtained the necessary permissions to establish the chapter, took on roles as co-program directors, booked a venue at the University of Texas at Dallas, and reached out to partners like Penn Head for equipment. While Matthew enlists volunteers mainly from his high school, a friend focuses on gathering participants, and Adrienne manages program promotion.
Adrienne emphasizes that the program serves a purpose beyond teaching tennis skills. “It fosters hand-eye coordination, social skills, self-esteem, and confidence,” she states. “We celebrate every small victory.”
Classes for children across the autism spectrum are set to commence on March 18th, and there’s already a waiting list. For information about future enrollments or volunteer opportunities, visit aceingautism.org/locations/dallas-tx or email aceingautismdallas@gmail.com.
Adrienne Bransky is a remarkable example of dedication and support for her children and their initiatives. Her unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of families with autistic children is impactful. For her relentless efforts toward the success of her oldest son’s mission to improve the lives of children with autism through tennis, Rodrigosaffiliates Magazine proudly presents this month’s VIP award to Adrienne Bransky.
For further information or to nominate someone for our VIP or Good Kid Awards, visit Rodrigosaffiliates.com or email Tricia@Rodrigosaffiliates.com.
