The Third Place

Who we serve

Think about the last time you felt completely overwhelmed. Maybe you were in a crowded restaurant where the music was too loud, everyone was talking at once, and you couldn’t focus on a single voice. Your heart started racing, and all you wanted was to step outside for some air. Now imagine feeling like that at the grocery store, at work, or the doctors office, every single day, because your brain processes the world differently. Next, visualize that being your child, and being the parent beside them trying to comfort them while feeling every stare and whisper around you. You long for a place where your family could just exist without judgment, without having to explain or apologize. 

That’s the reality for thousands of families raising neurodivergent and disabled children. Parenting these extraordinary kids is both beautiful and complex, filled with moments of strength, advocacy, and endless love. But it’s also a lonely journey. Between therapies, appointments, and the constant search for understanding, many parents feel like they’re doing it all alone. 

Why we exist

The Third Place for Kids was created to change that. Here, the lights are softer, the sounds are gentler, and no one stares when a child needs to stim, climb, or take a sensory-break. Kids find joy, confidence, and friends who play at their pace. Parents find each other and remember what it feels like to be part of a community that truly gets them. 

Our progress

In just six months, we’ve welcomed over 2,300 children and caregivers from across Colorado. Families tell us this is the first place they’ve ever felt seen. With your support this Colorado Gives Day, we can expand programs like parent support groups, sensory-friendly movies, and respite nights that give caregivers a moment to breathe. Your gift doesn’t just fund a space, it fuels belonging. You’re helping children regulate, connect, and thrive while giving parents the village they’ve been searching for. Together, we’re rebuilding what the world has lost: community.