THE STORY OF AltPlay ~ YOUR INCLUSIVE INDOOR PLAY GYM
It all started with my son.
I looked everywhere for a place where he could play, move, and make friends. My son is neurodivergent and needed a space that was built for his unique sensory, social, cognitive, and play needs.
WHAT I WANTED, AND WHAT MY SON NEEDED, DIDN’T EXIST
So I decided to build it.
AltPlay started with my son. I wanted a fun, safe place where he could play and make friends. I tried the spots around us, and nothing quite fit him.
Every time I walked into a space, I asked myself: Will he actually have fun here? Will it be too much for him? Will the people here welcome him, exactly as he is, stims and all?
And every time the answers were “No, no, and no.” So I decided to build an indoor play gym, just for him… and every kid like him. A place where my answers are “Yes, yes, and always yes.”
AltPlay is built for kids with disabilities and neurodivergent kids, and it is open to every family who believes in inclusion, kindness, and making friends together.
It is also built to make life a little easier. Sensory equipment is expensive and takes over your home. Here, families try different swings, tools, and toys to see what their kid loves before they ever buy.
AltPlay is also built for all ages. From 2-18, your child will find their place and feel welcome at our indoor play gym in Orange County.
A place where kids can just play and be 100% themselves, safe and free from judgment.
A place where kids can just play and be 100% themselves, safe and free from judgment.
“I created a space where my son could just play and be 100% himself, safe and free from judgment… A place every kid feels like they belong.”
MEET THE FOUNDER
Hi, I'm Leeza.
I'm the founder of AltPlay, an indoor play gym in Orange County, and the mom behind the whole idea.
I'm a registered dietitian, and I have spent my career supporting California schools and their meal programs since 2012. Along the way, I trained in myofascial release and feeding therapy, and I spent years teaching as a college professor. I am also an adult with ADHD, which shapes how I think about building spaces that work for every kind of brain.
But most of all, I'm a mom to a brilliant and unique neurodivergent little boy. AltPlay is the place I always wished existed for my son (and one that will grow with him too), and now it is here for your family too.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
All kids play differently. At AltPlay, that is the whole point.
Kids deserve to explore and figure out what they love. When a kid feels regulated and safe, everything gets easier, from making friends to trying something new. Here is what you can count on from us.
Safe and Predictable
Every visit is calm, consistent, and easy to know what to expect.
Inclusion and Dignity
Every kid of every age is welcome and respected, exactly as they are.
Real Support
We work to make everyday life a little easier for the families we serve.
Trusted Partnerships
We team up with local clinicians and community organizations you can trust.
WHAT IS A SENSORY PLAY GYM?
A place to feel safe in your own body.
A sensory space, or in this case, an indoor sensory play gym, is a place where kids can regulate their nervous system.
Here is why that matters: When a kid is not regulated and does not feel safe in their body or their surroundings, everyday things get hard. Focusing, socializing, making friends- all of it. Their body is in sensory overload, and there is no room left for the fun stuff.
AltPlay is built to help kids feel safe and regulated first. The play, the friendships, and the confidence follow.