LYNN — A new inclusive community initiative, Nathan’s Sensory Village, is set to launch this Saturday, offering children ages 4 to 13 a free, wheelchair-accessible space designed specifically for sensory exploration, movement, and connection. The program is named after the founder, Louise Dominique’s son, Nathan, who inspired its creation.
The concept was born from a mix of personal experience and years of community advocacy. Dominique — founder of the Lynn Disability Network and Caring Hearts Special Rights, and a member of the city’s disability commission — has been a local fixture for nearly four years. Through these roles, she began to see a troubling pattern: A major gap in the essential services available for children with disabilities.
“When I’m looking (at) the city… there’s (a) lack of programs, especially for kids like my son,” she said. As the mother of a child with autism, she found herself repeatedly advocating for more inclusive opportunities. After knocking on doors and hearing promises that led nowhere, she decided to act.
What began as small programming efforts steadily expanded. She introduced a cooking class tailored to children with varying needs, and the response was immediate. “… 99% of the time, I’m always (having) to close my registration for my cooking class,” she explained, noting that demand consistently exceeded available spots.
Through her work with local schools, she also began leading sensory-based activities. As more schools requested support, she realized a critical issue: Many programs were restricted to individual schools, leaving other children without access.
That limitation prompted her to envision something broader — a space open to the entire community. Nathan’s Sensory Village will feature rotating activity stations designed to meet children where they are developmentally and emotionally. The layout includes a movement corner, calming zones, and hands-on sensory experiences.
“So there will be (a) sensory corner so…it (will be) just sitting down, putting your headphones on (and) just relaxing, right?” she said, describing one quiet area. Another station will include tactile play. “So there’s another one gonna be a sensory bin so they have kinetic sand, Play-Doh… things like that.”
Activities will rotate approximately every 15 to 20 minutes, allowing children to explore different environments without pressure. Participation is flexible and individualized.
“I’m not going to put it in my mind (that) every kid’s gonna… participate,” she said. Drawing from her own parenting experience, she explained that children may appear disengaged but are often processing and learning internally. Some may join activities later, and others may simply observe.
Beyond serving children, the program is designed to support parents as well. Families are expected to stay but encouraged to participate, creating opportunities to build relationships with others who share similar experiences.
“When you have kids (with) special needs, you kind of lose your village,” she said. Social outings can become isolating, and friendships sometimes shift. “So we kind of lose the village we have.” Nathan’s Sensory Village aims to rebuild that sense of community.
The program is free of charge, with funding from the disability commission covering the cost of the gym space. Parents will be volunteering during the first session, but Dominique hopes additional community volunteers will step forward.
“I’m trying so hard not to exclude him in the society, but to include him in the society,” she said of her son — a mission that now extends to many other families.
Her broader goal is cultural change. She wants the city to become a place “where everyone’s welcome… no matter where your disability is.” Inclusion, she believes, begins with visibility and shared experiences. “They just see you’re human.”
Looking ahead, she sees the impact reaching far beyond one program. “The future’s in those kids’ hands,” she said, emphasizing that today’s children will become tomorrow’s leaders. By fostering early understanding and inclusion, she hopes to influence how future decision-makers view disability and community.
For now, the focus is simple: opening the doors and creating space. “We need to be trying and making a difference,” she said. “Trying to break those barriers.”
