Stacey Ritchie, left, and Zach Ritchie, right, and their team of coaches at ZR Fitness and Wellness believe exercise and play should be accessible and inclusive for all. Courtesy ZR Fitness and Wellness 
A safe, nurturing and fun environment, like this one at We Rock the Spectrum in Tinton Falls, will help foster learning, exploration and safe sensory experiences. Courtesy ZR Fitness and Wellness 
We Rock the Spectrum is a gym for kids of all abilities offering access to its equipment, as well as an arts and crafts section. Courtesy ZR Fitness and Wellness
By Mark A. Bravaco
RED BANK – Every facet of life can present new challenges for people with differing abilities. From making a living and finding housing to simply playing and exercising, life can be particularly taxing for those diagnosed with developmental, intellectual and behavioral disabilities.
Yet in the last few years, there has been a growing movement to make modern life more accessible to everyone, especially in the Two River area. Linda and Chris Spagnola, co-owners of the newly opened We Rock the Spectrum – Monmouth County at 44 Apple St. in Tinton Falls are two people trying to do just that.
We Rock the Spectrum (WRTS) is an international franchise that creates indoor gymnasiums designed for children of all abilities, including those with autism. These gymnasiums feature a panoply of sensory-safe play equipment in a fun, colorful indoor setting, and WRTS-Monmouth County is no different, boasting countless play pieces like swings, climbing structures, and even a 50-foot zipline.
“In addition to our bigger equipment, we also have various imaginative play stations and age-appropriate toys for toddlers and infants,” Linda said. “We have a reading nook and a calming room for children who become overstimulated.” They even have an arts and crafts room for those inclined to creative endeavors.
Linda has experience as an occupational therapist in an outpatient pediatric clinic. As an OT, she recognized the demand for more playtime outside of patients’ weekly allotted therapy sessions, and she ran with the idea.
“In therapy, you get to use, say, a swing for 30 minutes a week and that’s it. But you can come here anytime,” she said.
Besides open play, when children can use the sensory-safe equipment while supervised by a parent or guardian, WRTS-Monmouth County offers birthday parties, one-on-one care, summer camps and more.
“What drew me to WRTS is its inclusivity. We welcome all children ages 3 to 13, whether or not they have a diagnosis. And young adults and teenagers with special needs can come play as well,” Linda said.
Another Two River area movement-oriented business, ZR Fit and Wellness, also addresses the needs of those of any ability. Started in 2021 by husband-wife duo Zach and Stacey Ritchie, ZR’s coaches provide exercise classes, instruction and supervision to people with a broad array of abilities, especially those with intellectual, developmental and behavioral issues.
Part of the inspiration to launch ZR Fit and Wellness came from Zach’s interactions with his younger brother, who has fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that can cause a range of intellectual disabilities. While Zach and Stacey were both teachers in Rumson, COVID-19 hit. The school administration responded by sending students into an entirely virtual learning environment to avoid transmitting the virus.
Although virtual learning was necessary to save lives, Zach and Stacey saw the toll that isolation and inactivity took on their neurodiverse students, who no longer had a way to engage in physical activity and socialize with one another. It wasn’t long before the couple decided to act.
“That’s where our heads came together about giving them a safe space,” said Zach. “In the first year, I would drive home to home and do fitness with them, or take them to a park.”
Eventually, Zack said, they reached out to Elite Sports Training (EST) in Red Bank, which let them borrow space to host activities.
“We’re both active people,” said Stacey, “so I feel like we see the benefits of fitness for everyone; and we felt like the people that we were working with and spending a lot of our time with weren’t getting to engage in those benefits, because there wasn’t a gym space that was really built for them. So that was the space we had to fill: Let’s make a place where anyone who’s not comfortable trying fitness could feel more comfortable to try it.”
Physical activity isn’t the only option for having fun. Last November, the Red Bank Planning Board gave unanimous approval to Robo CAFÉ, a multipurpose venture that aims to provide a dedicated space for neurodivergent individuals to learn skills, sell crafts, socialize and receive assistance with housing and employment applications. It is the brainchild of Ross Yellin, CEO and founder of Inclusion Pathways, a for-profit organization. The space will be located at 62 White St., in the building formerly occupied by Hobbymasters.
Red Bank is also slated to get a new three-story residential building that is specially designed for neurodivergent individuals. Known as Thrive Red Bank, it will be located at 273 Shrewsbury Ave.
According to Edward W. O’Neill Jr., a licensed professional planner who gave testimony on behalf of Thrive to the borough, individuals with special needs lose many of their public services when they become adults.
“These persons must be provided with safe, appropriate, cognitively accessible housing,” he said, which is exactly what the new residential building will give them.
These four emerging ventures will help meet the needs of the countless individuals in the area, making life more accessible for a traditionally marginalized and overlooked community and ensuring a safe place to live, work and play for everyone.
The article originally appeared in the July 18 – 24, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
