Defying Odds Therapy Playspace opens

Occupational therapist offers calming space for kids to play

TOLEDO – The average play space can be overwhelming and loud for children with sensory sensitivities. But there is an alternative place where these kids can play. With the opening of Defying Odds Therapy Playspace (DOT), kids of all abilities can play and even receive therapy.

The DOT, located at 6544 W. Central Ave., was founded by pediatric occupational therapist Erica Zimmerman, whose expansion of the existing office and has been in the works for about two years. DOT Playspace combines play, therapy and learning all in one place. 

Zimmerman added that much of her inspiration for starting the project was her son. “I wanted a place where I could bring my son to work and he could play,” she said.

Nicole Whitaker brings her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Ellis, to the DOT Playspace. She said that Ellis is one of three boys, and he can be shy, so the play area is a great place for him to spread his wings without the chaos of some other area playspaces for kids his age.

“He also is doing speech therapy, so with Erica’s background in occupational therapy, I knew that she would probably have a lot of really great sensory things,” Whitaker said.

“It’s not just a play space with a bunch of toys. It’s actually thoughtfully planned for kids’ sensory output and input, and to really spark them into not just playing, but learning, as well. That’s why I go there.”

Though the space offers equipment that is ideal for children under five years of age, Whitaker takes all three of her kids, who range from two to nine.

The indoor space offers a wide variety of things to do, like climbing structures, slides, swings and sensory friendly rooms. During the design process, a couple of people with autism were brought in to give their opinion on the play structures. The design of DOT’s interior is meant to be calming, with soft pastel decor and white walls, while other play spaces have really bright colors, which can be overstimulating.

“I’ve worked with a lot of families who had children with developmental disabilities,” Zimmerman said. “There aren’t many places to bring them.”

DOT is inclusive for all children, not just limited to children with developmental disabilities.

“We really weren’t taking her places [before taking her to the Playspace] because places didn’t feel like they would be conducive to her,” said Broderick. “She can get really overwhelmed by a lot of loud noise, and just doesn’t have the stamina to play all the time, especially with other kids there; it’s a lot of gross motor work. She goes through fatigue and it tires her out.”

Devon Broderick brings her 18-month old daughter Isla to the DOT. Isla has single-sided deafness, making the calming aspect of the facility especially appealing to the Broderick family.

Broderick notes that the Playspace is ideal for letting small children explore and play while parents relax. And when children do get overstimulated, there is a sensory room with a bubble wall and dim lighting they can use as a reset. Without this kind of setup, Broderick would often feel compelled to go home when Isla became overwhelmed during play. The DOT Playspace makes it possible for kids to spend more time playing after they calm down.

The space is broken up into three separate rooms with different purposes:

• The sensory room is quiet and calm, a great place for children to unwind and relax.
• The motor gym is more high energy, hosting play structures.
• The creative cafe is a place where children and their parents can eat together. There are also art stations set up to encourage creativity.

For information about what DOT has to offer, visit their website and Facebook page.