FUN FOR ALL
By Denise Scott
The kids playing at We Rock the Spectrum on Ashburn’s Red Rum Drive don’t think about the indoor playground’s inclusive atmosphere. They don’t realize it has specialized sensory equipment. And they don’t know the equipment is designed particularly for children with autism, sensory processing disorders and other developmental conditions.
They’re just there to have fun.
Beatriz McNelly of Ashburn’s Ashbriar neighborhood co-owns We Rock the Spectrum Loudoun with her daughter, Eileen Markis of Leesburg. Markis previously taught and ran a summer camp at The Arc of Loudoun in Leesburg, which assists people with disabilities and their families. McNelly is treasurer of that nonprofit’s board.
The duo opened the local franchise – one of more than 200 in 34 states and eight countries – in October. Attendees range from about 6 months (able to sit up by themselves) to those in their early 20s who have the capabilities of a younger child.
The spacious facility has designated areas for toddlers and teens, an art room, a zip line, a trampoline and more.
“Everything we have attracts children in general, but every piece of equipment has a purpose to help them strengthen their upper body or their lower body, to help them with hand-eye coordination – but they don’t know that,” McNelly said. “They’re just playing, right? We call it playing with a purpose.”
She added that the center welcomes everyone. “We have children that come that are not verbal, and we have children with Down syndrome. We have children that have physical issues.”
The center even welcomes siblings who don’t have special needs and children in wheelchairs.
The parents get extra support, knowing they are in a safe space whose slogan is “Finally a place where you never have to say I’m sorry.”
“When the parent-child relationship gets stressful, when the child is having a meltdown, I’ve seen [other] parents just gently come by and maybe bring a toy to distract the child, or just pat the parent on the back,” she said. “It’s just a look like, ‘I got you. I understand.’”
McNelly said when a child gets upset in a traditional setting, most parents worry about what’s going on around them. “Is he upsetting another child? Is a parent looking at you and going, ‘Ah, this person can’t control their own child.’ That kind of thing never happens here.”
We Rock the Spectrum Loudoun does not have bright lights or loud noises that can upset children with autism. But if a child does get upset, they can use the Calming Room.
The facility offers one-on-one respite services, a summer camp with weeklong sessions starting July 6, birthday parties and special education class field trips. It will even offer classes such as “Mommy and Me Pilates.”
McNelly said she and her daughter are determined to accommodate the children in a variety of ways, such as those who come in after hours because they need the space to themselves.
“We have one child that won’t leave unless he locks the door for us,” she said. “He comes at the end and we say, ‘OK, it’s time to go home.’ So he comes and turns the lights off and watches us lock the door. And then he gets in his car. He’s happy.”
DETAILS
- What: We Rock the Spectrum Loudoun
- Where: 21720 Red Rum Drive, Suites #177-182, Ashburn
- Phone: (571) 479-8567
- Online: werockthespectrumloudounva.com