Category Archives: community connections

Our Story

We get asked a lot about why we opened SenseAbility Gym and how. 

This is our story.

Written by Tina Perriello and Alysia Butler,  co-owners of SenseAbility Gym.

We met when our kids were in preschool together in Hopedale at the Bright Beginnings Center.  Our kids, Henry and Anthony, are both diagnosed with autism and were part of the subseparate classroom program at the school. We became friends and talked a lot about trying to find a place where we could have a play date where our kids could play together (or separately) and where we could also talk to each other.  Sometimes, traditional play areas like playgrounds and trampoline parks are too overwhelming for kids on the autism spectrum, and even our own houses were hard to manage sometimes.

We came upon a local occupational therapy clinic that opened up to the public once a month in the winter for “open gym” play.  Families could come and pay by the visit so the kids could play on equipment that was familiar to them through their own therapies.  We took our kids to an open gym time and not only did they love it, but we did too.  It was the first time that we were able to talk to each other while our kids played freely and judgement free.  When we left, we knew we had to open a place like that that had access for families all year long.

Thanks to the help of friends, family and an incredibly supportive community, we created SenseAbility Gym.  We incorporated as a nonprofit since we knew we were filling a need in our community that didn’t exist, not just in the Hopedale area but in all of Massachusetts.  Through fundraisers, grants and corporate donations, we opened our doors to the public in February 2013.

Since that day we’ve welcomed in over 700 different families through the doors of SenseAbility Gym.  We offer the types of classes for children that didn’t exist before.  We have families using our space for their child’s birthday party, saying it’s the first time they’ve been able to have a party for their child.  We have created a space for children of all abilities to play together in that safe, judgement free place that we craved for our own children when they were young.  We have families that exchange emails and phone numbers after they’ve met at SenseAbility, making plans to meet up the next time.

There’s a cs lewis quote that says “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.“  That’s exactly what families feel when they come through our doors – they’ve found a place where their family is accepted, understood, and welcomed.

What started out as a selfish need for us to find a space for our own kids has developed into so much more for our community.  We are grateful for every family who has walked through our doors and for everyone who has supported us along the way.

Our Fourth Annual Wine/Food Tasting Fundraiser

wine_tasting_flyer_2015(b)-page-001Join us for our fourth annual wine/food tasting fundraiser for SenseAbility Gym!  This is our signature fundraising event – raising money to support SenseAbility Gym’s programs and operations.  We are so excited to have so many local vendors with their great food, desserts and drinks with us that night – plus a very special honoree!  Plus great raffle and auction prozes too!

Early bird tickets are available at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/senseability-gyms-fourth-annual-foodwine-tasting-fundraiser-tickets-17726355005?ref=ebtn

The first 150 will receive a commemorative wine glass from the event.  Buy your tickets today!

Valentine’s Day Friendship Party!

Senseability Valentines Flyer 2015-page-001Join us for our Valentine’s Day Friendship Party!

Join us for snacks, crafts, photos with friends and other special activities.

Connect with other families and make new friends.

 Everyone goes home with a special Valentine!

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=15106571161

A $10 donation per family is requested at the door.  All proceeds will go to supporting programs at SenseAbility Gym.

Paper Clouds Apparel Fundraiser

Diary-06We are so excited to announce our latest fundraising project!  We have partnered with Brooke, an amazing artist, and Paper Clouds Apparel to bring you these incredible designs that support SenseAbility Gym!  For every purchase, Paper Clouds will donated 50% of the proceeds to us.

Paper Clouds Apparel is an amazing company “formed to showcase the creative minds and artistic abilities of individuals with special needs while raising funds to provide financial support for special needs schools and organizations. We achieve this goal by selling t-shirts, hats and totes featuring artwork designed by individuals with special needs. Paper Clouds Apparel also hires individuals with special needs to package all of our sensory-friendly clothing.”

And the artist?  She’s our good friend Brooke, daughter of author Jess from Diary of a Mom.  “Brooke is an eleven year old soon-to-be middle schooler. She is generous, affectionate, funny as all get out, and, as you can see, a talented and prolific artist. She was diagnosed with classic autism at the age of three and, while she struggles with certain aspects of the disorder, she takes pride in being autistic and sees her autism as an integral part of what makes her the incredible kid that she is. One of her favorite places on Earth is SenseAbility Gym and both she and her mom are thrilled to support them in any way they can.  All designs from this campaign were created by Brooke!!”

Here are some examples of the designs you can purchase:

"Monster" playing soccer

“Monster” playing soccer

"Fruited Plane"

“Fruited Plane”

"Grapes"

“Grapes”

"No boys allowed" - from a scene in Godspell

“No boys allowed” – from a scene in Godspell

Diary-03

Our amazing artist friend with her designs!

This campaign runs until August 10th so purchase now!  Click HERE to get to their site and see all the good work they do.

 

 

Summer “Sensational Tween” Nights for July/August 2014

Tweens Night Out Flyer Summer-page-001Announcing double the fun for our Sensational Tweens this summer!

Join us twice a month on Thursdays for our Tweens Night Out!  Specifically for kids ages 9-13, kids can bring their iDevices and play games together or jump and swing!  Bring a nut-free snack and hang out together!  Parents must remain on the premises.  Space is limited so we ask that you sign up ahead of time.

Tween Nights will be Thursdays July 10th and 24th and August 7th and 21st from 5:30-7:30pm.

The Organized Child: Strategies for Success at Home and School

The Organized Child-page-001

Join acclaimed author Carolyn Dalgliesh as she presents:

The Organized Child: Simple Organizing Strategies for Life at Home & Academic Success at School

  • Understand and Support Your Child’s Unique Style
  • Easy Organizing Solutions for Home and School
  • Strategies for Homework and Other Common Challenges
  • Power of Time Management, Visual Aids and Routines
  • Extra Supports for Rigid, Anxious and Distracted Kids

Thursday, April 10th at 7pm in the Library at Memorial Elementary School in Hopedale, MA

This 90 minute presentation includes live organizing examples and a Q&A session where attendees can brainstorm strategies using real life challenges.

Carolyn Dalgliesh is the founder of Systems for Sensory Kids & Simple Organizing Strategies helping families, individuals and businesses get organized.  Her book, The Sensory Child Gets Organized, teaches parents how to tap into systems, routines and visual aids to organize and empower their rigid, anxious, or distracted kids.

This presentation is co-sponsored by Hopedale SEPAC and SenseAbility Gym.

For more information, email or call .  Register at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-organized-child-strategies-for-life-at-home-and-success-at-school-tickets-11011494677?aff=estw

SenseAbility Gym Day at Blackstone Valley Ice Arena

UnitedWeSk8Day-page-001(1)

Blackstone Valley Ice Arena is opening its doors and rink to SenseAbility Gym families and friends.  Join us for a free skate on Saturday, April 12th from 3pm-4pm.  Bring the whole family and learn more about their United We Sk8 program and the Blackstone Valley Bulldogs – their adaptive learn to skate and hockey leagues.

BVIA is generously donating this ice time in honor of April as Autism Awareness Month.

Skate rentals are included free of charge.  Register at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/senseability-gym-free-skate-at-blackstone-valley-ice-arena-tickets-10911973005 and please give skate sizes for all attending (children and adults).

For more information on United We Sk8, visit http://unitedwesk8.com/  or http://www.blackstonevalleyice.com/