Saturday, September 12th, was an exciting day for We Rock the Spectrum – Bellevue as it reopened its doors under new ownership! Bellevue We Rockers of ALL abilities and their families can now book low capacity services, including Private Facility Rentals, Pre-Booked Open Play sessions, Virtual Learning Camp, and Break Time/Drop off.

Formerly known as We Rock the Spectrum – Eastside Seattle, Sumathi Sridhar and Aruna Aiyar are the new owners of We Rock the Spectrum – Bellevue. Sumathi and Aruna’s friendship began over 20 years ago when their daughters played together at the park. Since then, their families have bonded as they have enjoyed learning and supporting each other.

Aruna is a mother first, and an educator second. She lives with her husband of 26 years and two children, Sneha and Skanda. Her daughter, Sneha, graduated from the University of Washington in 2019 and now works as an RBT in an autism clinic. Her son, Skanda, was diagnosed with ASD before his fourth birthday. As a young adult, he is now attending classes at a community college. 

Sumathi currently works as a clinical dietician at a hospital and is the mother of two children. She loves to travel with friends and family and enjoys learning about all the cultures around the world. Sumathi has family members on the spectrum and has learned a lot from Aruna and her family about raising a child with autism.

These two amazing women had been discussing the idea of establishing a mentorship and training program for kids on the spectrum for a long time. So when the opportunity to own We Rock the Spectrum – Bellevue arose, they knew it was the perfect fit! Sumathi and Aruna are very excited to join the We Rock family in Bellevue, WA, and to continue carrying out the mission of inclusion for children of ALL abilities in their community.

Considered an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic, this gym will serve as a place to help Bellevue families cope with isolation and find comfort within their community. Children from all walks of life will have access to a wide range of specialized sensory equipment they can use to regulate their bodies in a safe, clean, and controlled environment.

In accordance with Bellevue and Washington guidelines, the gym will be opening its doors to the community as a Private Sensory Facility Rental with low capacity services. All visitors must pre-book their sessions with We Rock the Spectrum – Bellevue and will be asked to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. Staff will also abide by these rules in order to ensure the safety of our We Rockers. In addition, throughout the day and in-between sessions, the gym will be cleaned and disinfected by staff according to EPA and CDC standards.

A huge thank you and shoutout to our Bellevue We Rock community for continuing to support us during these changing times! We are thrilled to bring on Sumathi and Aruna as the rockin’ new owners of our Bellevue facility and can’t wait to see what these two have planned for the months ahead! Let’s ROCK, Bellevue!!