Building a Sensory Safe Haven for Children with Special Needs and their Families

By Deon Jones,
Founder & Executive Director,
Uniquely Me Creative Arts

In Brooklyn, families raising children with special needs live with constant challenges. Services are limited, waitlists are long, and truly safe spaces where children can thrive are too rare. Parents search endlessly for environments that welcome their children as they are, but too often they hear “we are not equipped” or “this program isn’t the right fit.” The weight of this reality grows heavier for minority families, who face both systemic racial inequities and the gaps in disability services. When these barriers intersect, access to high-quality programs and resources becomes even more elusive.

I know this struggle personally. My son Elijah was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with autism. As a result of his dual diagnosis he struggles with sensory processing disorder, which means his brain struggles to organize and respond to information from his senses. Loud noises, bright lights, or unexpected changes can overwhelm him, while at the same time he often craves movement or deep pressure to feel grounded.

His dual diagnosis has made navigating the system even more complex. Schools, therapy providers, and community programs often do not know how to meet his needs. There were times when I felt completely isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. That experience is why I founded Uniquely Me Creative Arts, or UMCA.

UMCA was created with a simple mission and profound purpose: UMCA’s mission is to improve sensory processing disorder for special needs children through sensory-focused creative arts activities while their families engage in family chats led by experts in the field. In just over a year, we have grown into a network of more than 100 families across Brooklyn.

Our “Sensory Saturdays” bring children together for music, art, dance, drama, STEM, and visual arts in environments tailored to sensory needs. At the same time, parents gather in family chats to learn from physical, speech, occupational therapists, attorneys, family advocates, and doctors. Moreover we share love, strategies, and emotional support.

The impact has been undeniable. Children find new ways to express themselves and experience joy. Parents, many of whom arrive weary from the daily grind of advocacy, leave with hope and renewed strength. They gain something that is often missing in their lives: respite. For a few hours, they can exhale, knowing their children are safe and cared for.
But UMCA is more than a program.

It is a community. Families who meet through our events build bonds that extend far beyond our walls. They lean on one another, go out together, and create memories they once thought were out of reach. This fall, UMCA families will see Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen and have dinner at Carmine’s, all at no cost to parents. These moments are more than outings; they are reminders that inclusion means full access to life, culture, and joy.

Unfortunately, the need for spaces like UMCA far outweighs what currently exists in Brooklyn. Families continue to face systemic inequities that leave them struggling to access therapies, safe environments, and culturally affirming programs. For Black and Brown families, those inequities are compounded. This is why our work is not only about creativity and community, it is also about equity and justice.

Brooklyn deserves a place where children with special needs can learn and grow, and where families can find both support and rest. That is why we are proud to take the next step in our journey with the opening of the UMCA Sensory Zone.

Located at 1047A Fulton Street in Clinton Hill, the Sensory Zone will be Brooklyn’s first dedicated creative arts hub for children with special needs and their families. It will include therapy rooms, sensory play areas, arts spaces, and family support programming, all under one roof, intentionally designed to meet the needs of our community.

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM, we invite the community to join us for the Grand Opening celebration. The day will include performances, sensory activities, family chats, food, and prizes. But the true purpose of the day is to mark a milestone: Brooklyn families who are raising children with special needs will have a permanent, safe, and affirming space built for them.

The Sensory Zone is more than a building. It is a promise. It says to every child: you are welcome here. It says to every parent: you do not have to do this alone. And it says to New York City: we can build a community where all families belong.

To learn more about UMCA, our programs, and how you can become part of this movement, visit www.umcanyc.org. Together, we can ensure everyone is uniquely valued, uniquely celebrated, and uniquely themselves.
Deon Jones
Founder & Executive Director
Uniquely Me Creative Arts (UMCA)
admin@umcanyc.org
www.umcanyc.org