YOU GUYS ARE ROCKING IT!
It’s an Australian-first – a gym with a real difference has opened its doors in Preston, Victoria.
A special needs gym lands in Australia.
We Rock the Spectrum is a purpose-built gym developed in the US and designed for children with special needs, with specialised equipment including slides, swings and ziplines.
All of the equipment is designed by occupational therapists with the aim of aiding the sensory development of children with processing disorders, while providing additional motor skill development.
Sally Johnson is the local mum and master franchisor behind the Preston opening and was inspired to bring the concept to Australia after seeing the benefits first-hand.
“Within my own special needs community, I see the desire families have to connect with one another,” Johnson explains.
“I also see how great families feel when they know their children are benefiting from activities that help them regulate their sensory needs, while having fun.”
Johnson’s son Digby was diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age two, and the pair struggled to find play centres where he felt included.
After learning about the We Rock the Spectrum model, Johnson traveled to the US to see the gyms for herself, meeting with founder Dina Kimmel, who shares a familiar story.
Kimmel developed the specialised concept in 2010 after her two-yearold son, Gabriel, was diagnosed with autism. The gyms allow families with special needs children to engage in sensory-beneficial activities.
Now in its fourth year of franchising, We Rock the Spectrum has over 70 locations across the globe, with the Preston opening marking the third international franchise and first for Australia. Specialist gym franchises have garnered much attention in Australia of late, however this latest model caters to a traditionally under-represented market. According to a recent study from AMAZE, Victoria’s peak body for autism spectrum disorder, only 4 per cent of autistic Australians feel their community knows how to properly support them.