Preston kid’s gym for children with autism and other sensory disorders ready to open

AUSTRALIA’S first gym built for children with sensory disorders will open in Melbourne’s north this weekend. Get a first look inside.

AUSTRALIA’S first gym for children of all abilities will open its doors this weekend.

Filled with swings, slides and a zip line, We Rock the Spectrum Preston is a play centre with equipment designed by occupational therapists to aid children with sensory disorders.

But the gym is open to children of all backgrounds and abilities and owner Sally Johnson said her goal was to reach a 50-50 split when the centre was up and running.

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Children can run across a padded floor, clamber over swings and slides, climb up a miniature rock wall and zoom across the room on a flying fox.

Odette, 4, plays with the sensory wall. Picture: Ellen Smith

There are also spaces for use as a classroom, allied health practices, and to hold parties.

Schools, early intervention centres and the Royal Children’s Hospital have inquired about the centre’s services, which will include yoga, music classes and dance.

Ms Johnson said seeing the gym come together had been an emotional experience and she was excited to finally have a place she felt all families could come and enjoy.

Ms Johnson’s seven-year-old son Digby was diagnosed with autism aged two and she said her journey trying to find a suitable place for her son to play was the inspiration behind the business.

Clementine, 5, plays on the occupational therapist-designed equipment for children with sensory disorders. Picture: Ellen Smith

We Rock the Spectrum has been a franchise in the USA since 2014 and this is the first gym in Australia.

“You should have seen my search history, how much I googled ‘sensory gym Victoria’,” Ms Johnson said.

“Little did I know across the world my dream was being realised.”

Brother and business partner Marcus Johnson said there were plans to open more centres across Victoria and later the country and his eyes had been opened to what it meant to be truly inclusive.

Delilah (7) on the climbing wall at the centre. Picture: Ellen Smith

Mr Johnson said he was happy to admit his view of the world had been naive and the process had exposed him to “the smallest and simplest things that make a huge difference to people’s lives”.

“The lights we have, there are 40 different types but only three people with sensitivities can cope with,” he said.

Mr Johnson believed more facilities like the play centre were a step towards people with disabilities being truly accepted in society and the support from the community had reflected that.

“I’ve been blown away by the response. Everyone has said ‘yes, this is what is needed’,” Mr Johnson said.

Every franchise, including this one in Malaysia, uses the same equipment installed by the same staff.

A second gym in Melbourne is expected to be open early in 2019.

The grand opening of We Rock the Spectrum Preston is on Saturday, August 11, and the centre will be open to the public the following day.

For more information, visit the website.

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