Hannah Peterson, the founder, is a recent graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in biology. She was a competitive figure skater for over a decade and has always had a love for the ice. The freedom of having a safe space where you can be creative and express emotions has always been a second home for me. After a family tragedy, I was drawn back to the ice where I have always felt comforted and able to clear my thoughts and create positive energy gliding along the ice. In the last few years in school, I have been involved with an organization where students meet with local autistic children several days a week for lunch.

I always enjoyed the time we spend together, but also found it somewhat challenging given the limited communication of some of the children. I related to the feeling of being unable to express my emotions and I resonated with these children who always had something to say, but couldn’t quite find the words to say it. How could I find a new way to help these children express themselves? I thought back to when I was on the ice and I knew I could provide an opportunity to have autistic children find their artistic voice through skating. I could create a new outlet for autistic children to express themselves and to find the joy I had always felt on the ice. I want to open new doors for self awareness and expression that would only empower children  to grow stronger and more confident. This was the beginning of SKATING SPEAKS!