Robin Hall knows firsthand the challenges of finding appropriate play spaces for children with special needs. As the mother of a child who has ASD (autism spectrum disorder), she struggled to find safe places for age-appropriate play that were tailored to his needs.
“Because of his neurodiversity, he has a tendency to elope. Even when I do take him places, it can be really challenging for him to be present there. He will run away, and he doesn’t always behave the way people are expecting,” Hall said.
“It can be very stressful as a parent to have to constantly apologize for your kid’s behavior and also try to wrangle your kid in when they’re not understanding the boundaries of the spaces they are in. Finding spaces for kids with these specific sets of needs that are ubiquitous in the autism community was something that I felt was extremely important.”
A new venture
Inspired by her six-year old son, Donovan, Hall decided to open We Rock The Spectrum Kid’s Gym in Ann Arbor last month, becoming the first official franchisee in the state of Michigan.
“We Rock the Spectrum is a spectrum-friendly Kid’s Gym franchise headquartered out of California. There are over 150 locations worldwide, most in the U.S. Prior to last month, there were none open in Michigan yet, and the closest location was in Cleveland,” Hall said.
“What the franchise is is a space that is specifically tailored to kids on the autism spectrum and with sensory processing challenges,” she said. “We try to incorporate as much equipment for special needs children in general. It is a space that is inclusive of all children. What we really want to do is normalize neurotypical children, for them not to have to apologize and explain their behavior.”
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The gym features a full zip glider, a rock wall, a trampoline and monkey bars for kids to explore. Younger children will enjoy the small jungle gym in the space for infants and toddlers. There is also an arts and crafts space and a sensory wall.
“We also have a calming room for when kids get over-stimulated, or when they need to take a break from the gym floor. They can take a few minutes to regroup.”
Teens will enjoy the teen lounge, where there are tabletop video games, board games and a basketball hoop. There is also a swing geared specifically for the older kids.
A separate room is available for birthday parties and special events.
The gym also offers a retail shop with toys and merchandise geared to the children and families that the gym serves.
An inclusive environment
“To be able to build a place that was designed for them, to accommodate their sensory needs and is secure enough to know it’s going to be difficult for them to run out of the building, and for parents to be comfortable enough to bring their kids there and not have to constantly apologize for their behavior, is important to me,” she said.
The grand opening on August 31 saw more than 100 visitors come through the doors to experience first-hand what this space has to offer. Local organizations donated food for the event, and a tye-dye station was offered for visitors thanks to Camp Skywild, a local autism camp.
While Kid’s Gym is tailored to meet the needs of kids on the autism spectrum, Hall emphasizes that the gym is open to all children and families of all ages.
“We do not have an age limit. There are a lot of younger kids who are present, but that’s not to say that older kids haven’t been here. We have middle school kids. We have a teen lounge in the back that has items that are specifically targeted to older kids. The zip line is always a big hit.”
Hall said her son Caelen, 12, and daughter Lillian, 10, love to come to the gym with her.
“It is an inclusive environment. You do not have to be on the spectrum to come. We welcome all kids of varying types and abilities. We make whatever accommodations we can to make sure your kiddos will have a good time,” Hall said.
