GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As Autism Acceptance Month comes to a close, a gym that caters to children on the spectrum will soon have a location in West Michigan. The woman working to make that happen told 13 ON YOUR SIDE why a gym like this will be so helpful to so many families.
Her name is Autumn Wilson, the owner of We Rock the Spectrum Grand Rapids. She explained, “It’s a global franchise actually founded in Tarzana, California.”
We Rock the Spectrum is a gym where kids of all abilities can feel safe and accepted.
Wilson is working to bring one to the Grand Rapids area, the first one in West Michigan.
It’s a place she realized her family could use. She remembered, “We got diagnosed at two-and-a-half years old with my daughter, Everly.”
She says while there are many outdoor playgrounds available, some outdoor play spaces may present challenges for children with autism.
“Even a park like this, just looking around, it’s open. So, she likes to elope and run away. She’ll be entrusted for five seconds here and then want to explore everywhere else,” said Wilson before adding, “She gets lost very easily. She doesn’t respond to her name.”
We Rock the Spectrum gyms are filled with specially designed, sensory-safe equipment.
“Trampolines, we’ll have a zipline, all kinds of different swings, different climbing apparatuses, a rock wall, also like crash pads where they can kind of jump into,” said Wilson.
She’s in the process of finding the perfect space for this new gym, which will also have an arts and crafts area plus a calming room.
Wilson has a GoFundMe page to raise money for the gym.
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