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KiDazzles gives children with disabilities a place of their own
Maribel Martinez sits cross-legged on a purple gym mat, rolling clay into the shape of a snake.For most children, this would be a simple task. For 3-year-old Maribel, it is not only a fun game, but also part of her occupational therapy.
Maribel has autism, and goes for therapy sessions at KiDazzles, which opened May 1 in Ashburn off Red Rum Drive.
"I researched all the other centers in the area and I was most impressed with this one," said Maribel's mom, Barbara Martinez. "It has a lot of programs that are helpful for children."
KiDazzles provides speech, occupational and physical therapy for kids from age 1 to teen years all in one place, said Dani Waters, the center's director.
It is an extension of Children's Speech Therapy Center, which Waters and her husband, Curtis, took over about three years ago.
KiDazzles also offers a full-size gym, a sensory center, a preschool enrichment classroom and a parent resource center.
It's a place where kids can host birthday parties, learn martial arts or play in the gym over the weekend, the directors said.
The gym and things like music classes and camps over the summer provide outlets for kids with disabilities where they can come and not be over-stimulated.
"Parents said to us, 'We can't do birthday parties anywhere. We can't do arts and crafts,'" Curtis Waters said. "That's why we added the extra services. This is a place where any child can come and no one is judged by their disability. Everyone here accepts them."
The children who come to KiDazzles might have autism, Down syndrome or may have been born premature with some neurological problems, Dani Waters said.
One in 10 children in the United States has some type of speech problem, and the center is also a place where parents can help address that and get them caught up to other children their age.
"Once they get into school, the school system is limited in what they can do," Curtis Waters said. "They can't work on a lot of things that we can."
Nicole Fullerton, of Sterling, brings her autistic son, James, 5, to the center for therapy treatments five days a week.
"It's fantastic," she said. "He loves the music classes here and there is a lot of space for him to move around. The community really needs something like this."
Contact the reporter at ecoe@timespapers.com
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