'We Rock the Spectrum' kids gym franchise opens in Broussard

A kid's gym dedicated to children with all abilities opened its doors on March 11. The facility includes twelve pieces of therapeutic equipment for kids to enjoy. We Rock the Spectrum, an international children’s gym franchise, is a public sensory gym for children, infants, and toddlers. A few of the designed sensory equipment in the facility include a trampoline, a zipline with a slide, and a crash pit.

The uniquely designed equipment is to support children with autism, special needs, and to enhance physical, and neurological development. The gym provides a safe and controlled environment for kid parties or open play. Courtney and Adam LeBlanc are the new owners of We Rock the Spectrum – Lafayette, located in Broussard, LA.

Courtney and Adam's 12-year-old son is their driving force behind bringing Autism Awareness and Acceptance to the community. Their son is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and while looking for sensory gyms, Courtney ran across the franchise.

"What struck me the most is the motto for the company, finally a place where you never have to say I'm sorry. That really hit home for me because when you go to trampoline parks, your constantly as a parent of a special needs kid saying I'm sorry," said Courtney.

Courtney states, there is a huge need for an inclusive play area for children within the community. Existing special needs programs are geared more towards older children, which sometimes leaves parents of younger special needs children feeling left out.

When opening the gym, the main mission for Courtney was to provide a safe place for all children and offer an inclusive environment. It was important for the LeBlancs to have an environment where the neurotypical kids and special needs kids can learn from one another.

The gym offers parent's night out, in which parents can enjoy three hours of free time while kids enjoy activities and crafts, respite care for parents, birthday or private parties, and soon will offer camp services when school is out. The LeBlancs believe this kids gym will fill a void that many did not realize was missing in Lafayette.

Dina Kimmel, an autistic mom from California, is the CEO and Founder of We Rock the Spectrum. We Rock the Spectrum strives to create the best sensory gym for autism and provide the best indoor playground franchise opportunity available. The company runs through eight countries and 27 states and continues to expand.

The zip line is the most popular sensory equipment, and parents seem to appreciate the infant area that's gated to ensure safety while older kids enjoy the open play. "Since opening those doors, I've enjoyed connecting with parents the most, especially the ones that walk a similar journey that we do. It's been amazing to hear the stories about this place, and how much we needed it in our community" says Courtney.

We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym is open from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. located in Broussard, LA.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: kid's gym dedicated to children with all abilities opened in Broussard