Check Out Casey Brown’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Brown.

Hi Casey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For parents of neurodivergent or disabled kids, finding a truly welcoming place, where their child can play freely without judgment, often feels impossible. That’s exactly what The Third Place for Kids is changing.

Co-founders Casey Brown and Kayla Pallace met by chance at a small sensory-friendly play space in Parker, owned by Kayla at the time. It was a unique environment where their children could explore freely while they, as parents, could relax. When Casey learned the space was closing, she couldn’t let it go. “I looked at my husband and said, ‘We have to do something.’”

For Kayla, the journey started with her own son. “I opened my first space with no experience and 100% determination because I saw families struggling to find places that truly worked for them,” she says. Over time, she realized the need was even greater than she had imagined. When circumstances made it difficult to continue on her own, she and Casey began discussing how to take the idea further, transforming it into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. “She barely had to finish her sentence before I said yes.”

With a background in early childhood education and caregiving for kids on the autism spectrum, Casey understood firsthand the importance of sensory play for kids of all abilities. “Sensory challenges aren’t behaviors to correct; they’re how a child experiences the world. Instead of forcing kids to conform, we should be creating spaces that support them.”

The Third Place for Kids was built to do exactly that: be a sensory-focused community center designed for kids and families with unique needs. However, it’s not just for kids with diagnoses, it’s open to everyone. “If you just want a fun alternative to loud, overstimulating play spaces, this is for you too,” Kayla says.

It’s not just about the kids. “Parents need this, too,” Casey adds. “They need a place where they can sit, breathe, and connect while knowing their child is safe, happy, and entertained.” Part of our commitment to our members is providing warm hand-offs to resources for the whole family. These are resources we have personally vetted and that truly support a variety of different sensory needs and abilities.

The response has been overwhelming. Families have expressed deep gratitude, sharing stories of children who have struggled to make friends now finding connection and joy. One mother broke down in tears, thanking them for creating a space where her autistic son could finally experience friendship outside of school.

Looking ahead, The Third Place for Kids is focused on expanding its impact, partnering with organizations, certifying businesses as sensory-friendly, and eventually replicating the model across Colorado and beyond. “This is just the beginning,” Kayla says. “Every donation, membership, and partnership helps us build a world where all kids feel seen, safe, and included.”

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road? More like a rollercoaster on a broken track with rocket launchers attached to the caboose! Our biggest obstacle has been funding, by far. TTP means something to so many families. It’s a safe place to land in a world that wasn’t built for families who are different. Neurospicy, differently abled, sensory sensitive-these people find peace and comfort in our space. But we, as the founders, can’t do this alone. We have put everything we have and more into funding TTP and getting it off the ground. We built this place that is SO needed and DEEPLY cherished by the families who have found us so far. Now we need support from the foundations, grants, and private donors who believe in our mission to create sensory supportive spaces for families who deserve to been seen, supported, and celebrated. We are the new kids on the block in the nonprofit world and that in itself has proven to be an obstacle to securing financial support because of our age. We have received an outcry of gratitude from the community we serve, but have struggled to secure the funding to keep this dream alive and bring it to more cities, states, and countries. Because the world desperately needs more third places.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Before The Third Place for Kids I was a stay at home, homeschooling mom of two. I have a background in early childhood education and caregiving for families who have kiddos on the spectrum. Truly, my specialty is connection and that piece of me has come alive through TTP. Without a doubt my legacy and what I’m most proud of in this life is being a mom and building my family with my husband. I think what sets me apart from others is everything I’ve been through in my life. I can relate to and have empathy for a very wide range of people because I’ve experienced so much tragedy, adventure, loss, and love in my short life so far. When families walk through our doors feeling anxious and unsure of how welcome they’ll be I see myself in them in so many ways. So I welcome them gently and wait for my moment with them. When I see them release that deep breath I know thats my cue to open my heart to them and tell them my story so they feel safe to share theirs. That right there is the magic that lives inside TTP. Connection, vulnerability, empathy, and the comfort of being able to let your kids and yourself just be authentically you.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was always known as the sensitive kid. It took all the way into adulthood and motherhood for me to discover the term Highly Sensitive Person. Really it was becoming a mother to my oldest daughter, who is a Highly Sensitive Child, that allowed me to reflect and see little Casey for who she truly was. As a kid I cried. A lot. I felt so deeply that it would take over my entire body, mind, and soul and I was constantly made to feel like a nuisance for that. It was inconvenient and uncomfortable for the outside world to see such raw, deep emotions on display every day. And because I never felt accepted by anyone other than my parents who loved me deeply, I grew an extremely hard outer shell for protection. That protection expanded to others I could see my own sensitivity reflected in, too. When it comes to fight or flight survival mode, I have been a fighter since I exited the womb. I fought injustice on the school playground and stood up for the underdogs everywhere I went. If my parents were alive today I know they would laugh at the question of me being an “easy” kid, but that highly sensitive little girl grew up to be a mama bear who built a life dedicated to the different kids like me. Building the Third Place for Kids has been an extremely personal mission for me to create space for the kids who are different. The kids who never felt accepted because the world wasn’t built for their own differences. Those differences are superpowers, they make you who you are. Whether you have a sensory seeking, wild child like my youngest daughter or a kiddo living most of their life with supportive medical equipment like a wheelchair- you belong here. We made it for you.

Pricing:

• $75-one child membership
• $130-two child membership
• $175-three child membership

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Thethirdplaceforkids.org
• Instagram: @thethirdplaceforkids
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thethirdplaceforkids
• Other: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/a14f9679-eaa2-4a46-b23e-32042a554133

Image Credits
Kayla Yeary Photography