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The Pod Play Cafe

The Pod Play Cafe is an intentionally inclusive and neurodiversity affirming play cafe and sensory gym. The Pod offers enrichment classes and parent playgroups plus a therapy grant program, to assist children with therapy services, such as speech, occupational and physical therapies. The Pod will directly serve and benefit our local neurodiverse community, such as children with autism and other disabilities.
https://www.thepodplaycafe.com/
January 5×5 Night at Start Garden
Voting Closes:

January 20, 2025 11:59 pm

About this idea
As the parent of two neurodiverse children, I can greatly attest to the need and lack of resources and community available locally for families like ours. That is where The Pod comes in. The Pod's mission is to empower children to play, explore and adventure in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Our vision is for all children to feel safe and confident to explore the world around them. We strive to create a welcoming space in the community for families to connect and grow together. The Pod will work directly with local therapists to offer enrichment classes and parent playgroups, that will assist families both in a public setting and give them resources and techniques to be used at home and outside of the classroom setting. Parents will be able to connect with one another and have access to resources that may not otherwise be available to them.
Impact
The Pod will be open for ALL families, but intentionally inclusive and accessible to those who have children with disabilities and more complex needs. Having a space where they are able to play and explore, without their parent having to be on edge at all times for worries of judgement or elopement is crucial. Giving parents and caregivers not only educational options and resources but the chance to meet and connect with other families like their own is our biggest goal and priority. The Pod WILL be a safe, inclusive and open community.
What I'll do with $5,000
$5,000 will go directly towards our Launch Campaign and cover costs related to our classroom. This money will be used for our equipment and supplies that will enable our therapists and class teachers to get the items needed to help children learn and grow. Examples include sensory boxes and supplies for OT directed sensory exploration, gymnastics mats and peanut balls for DIR therapy playgroups, a refrigerator to store items for our OT directed feeding sensory exploration groups and so much more.
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