IDEA, AND IT WAS JUST
30-40 YEARS AGO.
>> Tati: AND THERE'S SOMETHING
ELSE IN METRO DETROIT THAT IS
NEW AND ONE-OF-A-KIND IN OUR
COUNTRY.
>> Chuck: STARTED BY A LOCAL MOM
WHO SET OUT TO HELP OTHER MOMS
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PLAY.
>> Jason: BUT THIS ISN'T YOUR
TYPICAL PLAY PLACE.
♪♪
>> I LIKE TO WELCOME YOU GUYS TO
PLAY PLACE FOR AUTISTIC
CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: THIS SPACE FILLED
WITH EVERYTHING FROM LEGOS TO
SWINGS IS A HAVEN FOR AUTISTIC
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
MICHELLE JONES HAS BEEN DREAMING
OF THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
>> MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
AUTISM AT 2 1/2.
THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES WHERE
YOU CAN'T GO CERTAIN PLACES
BECAUSE IT'S NOT INVITING TO THE
CHILD THAT'S AFFECTED.
SO I AFTER A WHILE GOT TIRED OF
IT AND I WENT HOME AND SCANNED
THE INTERNET, LOOKING FOR A
PLACE WE COULD GO AND AT LEAST
BE WELCOME.
BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT.
INITIALLY, THE IDEA WAS TO SET
UP A SMALL 12-BY-12 ROOM WITH A
COUPLE OF SWINGS AND BALL PITS,
AND IT SNOWBALLED INTO THIS
>> Reporter: LET'S LOOK AT WHAT
THEY HAVE TO OFFER.
♪♪
>> WE HAVE A COMPUTER CAFE,
WHICH THEY GO IN AND THEY DO
EDUCATIONAL GAMES.
WE'VE GOT A SWING ROOM WHERE WE
DON'T USE TRADITIONAL SWINGS.
WE HAVE A PLATFORM SWING, A
CUDDLE SWING.
AND LEGO CASTLE WHERE THEY CAN
COME AND PICK UP FINE MOTOR
SKILLS.
NEXT IS OUR CAROUSEL, SEATS 39.
OUR LASER LIGHT CHALK ROOM,
INSPIRED BY MY SON.
HE LIKES THE LIGHTS OFF AND WE
GET A LOT OF KIDS WHO DO.
IT'S BLACK LIT AND THEY CAN USE
GLOW IN THE DARK CHALK, A CALM
SPACE FOR THEM TO ENJOY, AND A
LOT OF THEM ARE ARTISTIC.
>> Reporter: AND THEY'RE MAKING
TODAY.
WHAT COLORS SHOULD WE DO?
ONE LINE.
WHAT COLOR SHOULD I DO?
>> PURPLE.
ON?
>> I LOVE MAKING ART CLASS.
>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.
AND THERE'S THE PICTURE!
>> IT'S DISGUISED AS PLAY, BUT
THE MAIN INTENTION IS TO DEVELOP
THESE KIDS TO THEIR HIGHEST
POTENTIAL.
>> Reporter: THEY HAVE A STORE,
HAIRCUT.
AND ALMOST EVERYTHING WAS
DONATED BY MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY.
>> IT WAS A LOT OF TIMES WHERE
WE'D RUN INTO SOMEONE AND THEY
WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, MY
CHILD IS AFFECTED AND I WANT TO
BE A PART OF THIS.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THAT
YOU ARE HELP AND SUPPORT.
>> Reporter: IT WAS DESIGNED FOR
AUTISTIC CHILDREN, BUT THE WHOLE
FAMILY CAN HAVE FUN HERE.
>> INCLUSION, ACCEPTANCE AND
SUPPORT, THAT'S OUR TAG LINE.
IT'S A COMMUNITY.
AND FROM IT BEING BUILT TO THE
PEOPLE WHO PATRONIZE THE PLAY
PLACE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT
IS, A COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES
TH FAMILIES AND DIFFUSES LOVE
ALL OVER THEM.
>> Tati: IMPRESSIVE!
IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS AN
AUTISTIC CHILD, YOU KNOW HOW
HARD IT IS FOR THEM TO DO THE
GRANTED.
>> Chuck: A HUGE COMMITMENT.
THEY PLAN ON OPENING A MOVIE
THEATER INSIDE AND PLAY
>> Tati: AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE
WORKING THERE ARE VOLUNTEERS BUT
THEY WANT TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH
THEIR STAFF.