By admin 
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — A Durham gym dedicated to providing a safe space for all children, including those with disabilities, is now open for business.
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Ritz Murthy, former teacher and owner of We Rock the Spectrum – Durham, wants parents and families to know they’re not alone.
“We want to make sure that we are trying to encourage inclusion, so kids with neurodivergence, parents with ADHD children, and we want to make sure even the neurotypical kids are coming out and playing together so we can encourage the inclusion aspect of it,” Murthy said.
The gym held its grand opening over the weekend, and while kids can come and play, there will soon be a number of programs available for families when the school year begins on August 24.
“These beautiful children, neurodivergent children, have a superpower and it’s just strengthening that superpower is what we need,” Murthy said. “So that’s what we’re going to be doing here, hopefully finding those superpowers and finding a way to strengthen them.”
The gym includes speech and physical therapy resources, targeting infants to preteens.
“I feel like this place will definitely be beneficial to a lot of children,” Isabella Murthy said. “I personally love this place and I am excited to help my mom’s dream.”
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Right now, children can access two hours of open play at the gym for a fee of $21.99.
Next month, the gym will add preschool early intervention programs, camps, aftercare and sensory learning programs.
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When the gym closes, Murthy said community partners plan to teach life skills classes for older children, potentially by the end of the year.
Jasmine Knight visited the gym with her son for the first time on Monday, hoping to make some special connections.
“Finding that circle is important because motherhood is very lonely, it’s isolating,” Knight said. “He can run around, explore, climb, jump because he does that at home on the couches.”
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