Category Archives: Media

A number of child care centers in the St. Louis region are tailoring their staffing and hours to meet the needs of first responders, medical staff and other essential workers who are on the front lines of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. One such worker, Emily Kemp, is a nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital who said there’s a “heightened sense of heaviness” as she wears protective gear at…

Families everywhere are facing huge adjustments to daily life as a result of COVID-19. But for children with autism, the uncertainty caused by school shutdowns and coronavirus fears presents unique challenges. We’ve compiled expert information on how to talk about coronavirus with kids with autism, where you can get NDIS advice and the all-abilities gym offering free respite for the children of essential services workers. Amaze chief executive Fiona Sharkie said…

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) – Many essential workers have been putting their own safety on the line to curb the pandemic, and one Upstate group will now be offering those workers free childcare. We Rock the Spectrum gym in Simpsonville is typically open to families with children with special needs. Now it is opening its doors for free childcare for essential workers who cannot work from home. Essential workers, such as…

ST. LOUIS — With all of these schools closing, organizations and businesses are coming up with ways to help families during this time. Jennifer Range is the owner of We Rock The Spectrum in Edwardsville. "Our mission is to always reach out to those families that most need us," she said. The franchise company is a fully inclusive sensory gym and they're planning to have a free break time/drop-off service…

Dina Kimmel talks about We Rock The Spectrum Kid’s Gym and the Sensitive Santa and Sensitive Cupid programs going on at WRTS for the holidays. Click the video to hear the whole interview!

We Rock is in the news! Check out Curbed LA's recent article, "China's Skyscraper Lessons; Designing Inclusive Playgrounds." We're thrilled to be setting an example and being a part of a movement towards the design of inclusive playgrounds! Read More

Since the inception of Women Empowered, I have come across many women from all walks of life and a considerable number of female entrepreneurs. There's a thriving female entrepreneurial community here in Los Angeles and many have inspirational stories that are the driving force behind their businesses. One woman in particular who has recently inspired me is Dina Kimmel, Founder and CEO of We Rock the Spectrum. Dina's story was…

Check out the latest clip with our CEO and hear about the amazing non-profit she has started in honor of her daughter Sophia.

GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Deborah Portnoy and Michael Cohen have over 25 years between them working with special needs populations. Their 14-year-old son, Harry, is autistic, as well. So, they welcomed the opportunity to open We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym, a so-called sensory gym that accommodates all children, but particularly those with special needs. "When we heard about this opportunity we jumped at the chance to create something that…

Dina Kimmel rocks, proving daily that this mother's love knows no bounds. When her daughter, Sophia, was born in 2004, everything went as planned. Sophia developed normally, was an early talker (at age 1) and interacted appropriately with children and adults. Dina and her husband, Tim, were easing into parenthood. In 2007, the Kimmels welcomed son Gabriel. Sophia was happy to be a big sister, and Dina and Tim were…

On April 29th, 2014 we had "The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" at our WRTS Corporate Office at 18859 Ventura Blvd in Tarzana . This was a huge moment for our company. We had a representative from the Mayor's office, the Council members office, the Assembly office and the President of the Chamber attend with many other professionals and ambassadors of the chamber, as well as family and loved ones. Following the…

We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and fun environment to foster learning, exploration and safe sensory experiences. Through our nonprofit My Brother Rocks The Spectrum Foundation, we provide social skills groups and activities for children across the spectrum.