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Kindness Jefferson County proposes sensory gym at new Riverside facility for children with special needs
Summary
Kindness Jefferson County and Riverside Gymnastics leaders asked county officials for seed funding to renovate a 1,000-square-foot space into a sensory gym with equipment and voucher support for low-income families.
Leaders from Kindness Jefferson County and Madison Riverside Gymnastics Academy presented a plan to create an indoor sensory gym aimed at serving children with special needs and to request county support for renovations, equipment and vouchers for families. "There's a walled off area about a thousand square feet that would be the perfect home for, an indoor sensory space," said Tina Gooden, who described the project and her personal motivation: her 8‑year‑old daughter Reagan is autistic and was placed on Medicaid waiver wait lists before receiving services in June 2024.
Gooden described planned equipment (swings, slides, a ball pit, inflatable obstacle course, bars and beam) and said she would use the gymnastics program to support neuro and motor development. She proposed vouchers to reduce fees for families who cannot afford classes, noting typical class costs range from $55 to $85 per month. Mike Sims of Kindness Jefferson County said the nonprofit recently received a $40,000 donation and other community gifts in support of expanded services and a free clothing/hygiene store.
County staff asked for financial details about Kindness Jefferson County’s income and disbursement streams; presenters agreed to provide accounting records and clarified voucher targeting and how programs would be prioritized for Jefferson County residents. No formal vote was taken; staff asked for the requested financial documents for review before budget decisions.
