justkids

A quarterly focus on Special Needs

Mission Possible
Parents Step Up to Help Kids Shine

by Teresa Farkas

Playing with toys and playing with

others can be the building blocks to
socialization and problem solving for
all children. Often the opportunities
are not readily available for special
needs families.
When these metro-Atlanta parents
experienced this first-hand, they
stepped up to fill the gaps, helping
their own child and many others.
Sensations Therafun
Started by Jay and Michelle Perkins

Colorful walls of childrens handprints and

sounds of laughter fill the massive space at Sensations
Therafun. Children of all abilities and ages are riding
the zip-line, biking around the track with custom-made
tricycles and swinging on the therapeutic swings.
The center, opened by Jay and Michelle Perkins in
March 2009, gives parents, kids and therapists a place
to play and learn that is fun for the whole family of a
special needs child. Entire families come to the space
and play on all of the equipment together. Even though
they specialize in special needs, anyone should feel
welcome to come and enjoy the space.
We were looking for a place for our daughter
Jennifer to continue what she was learning in therapy,
but also make it fun, Jay Perkins says. Jennifer, has
significant sensory challenges that require a lot of
different therapies. We couldnt find anywhere for
her to go and play, so we built it inside an empty
warehouse.
The bright colors and interactive play areas show
that Sensations Therafun is a place to let loose and
relax away from therapy appointments. The children
are able to play freely on the equipment, while they
learn important skills such as balance and coordination.
Children can use occupational therapy based
swings, but unlike a therapy appointment, they can play
as long as they want for a full sensory experience,
Perkins says.
One of the play areas provides equipment for
sensory needs like climbing walls, monkey bars, and
42 Atlanta Parent

August 2014

suspended swings. The business also provides

an activity center for after school and summer
groups as well as meeting spaces for the special
needs community.
The Therasports part of the building has
sports leagues that are not only cost effective
but also non-competitive. Perkins says his
daughter wanted to bring home a sports trophy
like her other siblings, so they decided to make
that dream a reality.
Everyone is welcome to our facility, which
makes it ideal for all types of families, Perkins
says, A parent can bring their kids to play,
instead of sitting in a waiting room, while their
sibling receives therapy; it makes the family
involved in all areas.

The bright
colors and
interactive
play areas
show that
Sensations
Therafun is a
place to let loose
and relax away
from therapy
appointments.
atlantaparent.com

 Team Spirit for Young Adults

Started by Rick Thompson

On a Saturday afternoon at Mt. Pisgah

United Methodist Church, the Titan
Wheelchair Sports program scrimmage is
in full swing. Kids are outfitted in custom
jerseys and some are using specially made
wheelchairs. Fun music is playing and
laughter fills the gym. You wont see a
competitive basketball game, but something
more akin to a close-knit club, all of them
greeting friends as they move around the
basketball court.
After high school, many young adults
with disabilities are considered too old
for wheelchair basketball, unless they can
play in college. Johns Creek parent Rick
Thompson, along with many volunteers,
decided to create a team where anyone was
welcome and age or ability level werent
factors.
My son Matthew played wheelchair
basketball in high school, and every year
someone aged out. Thompson says. It
became a sad event in the childs life, and
so we decided to change that by starting
Titans.
Created in the fall of 2010, the Titan
program primarily serves physically
challenged young adults who are mostly
out of high school, giving them social and
athletic opportunities.
Coaches and other volunteers are
engaged with the young adults, knowing
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each by name, and willing to help them in

any way they need. This includes helping
them with the wheelchair equipment, telling
jokes or pushing them down the court.
Thompson says the coaches want to
create an environment where the young
adults are allowed to have fun and develop
long-lasting friendships.
Team member Sarah Grace, 20, says
the experience has helped her become bold
enough to go out of state for college. I have
met so many close friends, she adds.
The participants have physical
challenges resulting from conditions
such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy and
muscular dystrophy. Some have mild
cognitive challenges in addition to their
physical special needs. Thompsons son was
diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease.
The members have a devotional, group
discussion and then hop in the chairs and
play some ball. The team goes to a local
restaurant after every practice and they are
also involved in service projects, including
raising around $30,000 for wheelchairs.
They have been served so much during
their lives, that it is important to teach them
how to serve others, Thompson says. This
program brings them out of their shells and
teaches them valuable life lessons.

Johns Creek
parent Rick
Thompson,
along with many
volunteers, decided to
create a team where
anyone was welcome
and age or ability level
werent factors.
Info:
Sensations Therafun
1704 Chantilly Drive NE, Atlanta
404-634-3500
sensationstherafun.com
Titans Wheelchair Sports Team
Rick Thompson, coordinator/coach
rthompson@lexmark.com
678-777-3723
titanswheelchairsports.com
Momos Special Toys
2323 Shallowford Rd., Marietta
770-926-1999
momospecialtoys.com

Contd on page 44

August 2014

Atlanta Parent 43

justkids
Momos Special Toys

Momo is
the name
of Melissa
Henrys sons
favorite stuffed
animal, so it was
only appropriate
to choose that
name for the
store.

Started by Melissa Henry

Everywhere you look at Momos Special

Toys, children are having fun while their
parents shop. One child is wildly running
around the store pushing a toy car. Others
are laughing and playing with a tea set at a
small table. Children are always encouraged
to test a toy before a purchase, and most
of them do.
Marietta mom Melissa Henry opened
Momos last October, recognizing that toys
can be a fun way to introduce concepts that
may be harder to grasp for special needs
kids. Her son, Ayden was diagnosed with
apraxia, coordination delays, and hearing
loss. Momo is the name of her sons favorite
stuffed animal, so it was only appropriate to
choose that name for the store.
Henry struggled to find affordable and
easily accessible toys for her son, so she
decided to open an online store that has
evolved into a retail location.
It all started with the search for a
chewy tube for my son, Henry says, You
would think something so small would be

easy to find, but after searching around town,

I could only find it online with a high price
tag.
Thats where the idea for the toy store
came about; I wanted to provide families
with the items therapists highly recommend
at manufacturers recommended pricing,
she says.
Momos offers a $10 credit for every

$100 spent and a $5 gift certificate for

the childs birthday. Free gift wrapping is
available.
The whimsical space offers therapeutic
products, peanut balls, and many more toys
for any child, not just those with special
needs. She also has demo toys for families
to try before purchasing and is happy to help
recommend what may be best. c

Childrens Special
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August 2014

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