Weekend of Inclusivity Aims to Bring Autism-Friendly Resources to Detroit Families

Tiera Moultrie couldn’t enroll her son in camp because it did not have the resources he needed, so she and her husband had to sell their home and move, so they could be in a district that suited the needs of families like theirs, who has a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

“People often talk about Detroit being a food desert, but, to me, it is also an inclusivity desert,” said Moultrie.

This revelation came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Moultrie’s oldest son was diagnosed with ASD at three-years-old. Today, two of her three children have been diagnosed; and, common with those with ASD, they exhibit very different behaviors.

Closing the Inclusivity Gap

A combination of her motherly love and learning more about ASD by observing her children, Moultrie found her purpose. She founded Autism in the D, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that hosts sensory-friendly events, parent support groups, and advocates for inclusive services in the community. 

Moultrie’s vision is to open Inscape Detroit, Detroit’s first autism-inclusive, adaptive and play gym, this year. While “normal” gyms can be overstimulating for many autistic children, this one offers a more focused and specialized experience.

This weekend, April 11-12, Autism in the D will host its annual Weekend of Inclusivity, in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. All funds raised will go directly to equipment, staff and programming for Inscape Detroit. Moultrie hopes this gathering will create a groundswell of support and allow people to understand the role her gym can play in the lives of ASD families.

“My goal for Inscape Detroit is to give families a place where they don’t have to explain, apologize, or feel like they don’t belong,” said Moultrie, who explained that although this project will start as a gym, it will evolve to include resources, therapy support and programs designed specifically for those on the spectrum. 

“This [gym] is proof that our kids matter, that their needs are valid and that our community is ready to show up for them,” said Moultrie.

Weekend of Inclusivity Returns

On Saturday, Autism in the D will host a pop-up at the Chandler Park Field House from 10am to 3pm, with five stations, each focusing on one of the five senses: a sensory ball pit, blackout light experience, aromatherapy experience, silent dance party and snack station. The main aim of the pop-up is to serve as a preview of what the gym will offer.

“Sensory-based activities are essential tools that allow individuals on the spectrum to engage on their own terms,“ said Moultrie. “For many in the autism community, the environment can feel overwhelming. Spaces that are designed with sensory experiences are examples of what true inclusion looks like.”

She uses the skills learned at Wayne State University to be an Applied Behavior Analyst (ABA) to set up both the pop-up and the gym. ABA is one of the three types of therapists associated with autism. The other two are occupational therapists and speech therapists.

As this year marks Autism in the D’s sixth Weekend of Inclusivity, Moultrie reminisced on the first one, which took place during the COVID pandemic with just her and her family walking up and down her parents’ street.

Since then, the weekend has hosted hundreds of attendees, with the Autism Awareness Walk frequently serving as a highly supported event. This year, the walk will be held on Sunday, April 12, from 12pm to 3pm at DMC’s Brush Park.

The event has continued to prove itself to be a mode of networking and building vital community. 

“They have become like family to me,” Moultrie said, as she explained that she intends to continue fostering a sense of community at the Inscape Detroit Gym. 

And in creating camaraderie among other ASD families, Moultrie realized: each family’s issues and needs can be very different.

A working-class family who needs both parents to work, has different needs than a family where one parent can stay home. Or, a family that lives near available resources would have more immediate support than one with a longer commute.

Looking Ahead

Today, 1 in 31 children under the age of eight have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Moultrie encourages those who fall within that statistic to know that they are not alone. Autism in the D was built with the aim to connect families with the respective resources that they need.

In the ‘60s, Detroit was the fifth largest city in the country, and autism was barely known and rarely talked about. Nearly 60 years later, Moultrie is determined to make sure the city’s understanding of and resources for autistic parents aren’t trapped in the era of Mad Men.

To learn more about Autism in the D and to support their mission, visit www.autisminthed.com.