Having a child with special needs often brings unique challenges like isolation, judgment, helplessness and feelings of being misunderstood. But for families facing these struggles, Pause for Parents, Play for Kids (Pause) provides a much-needed lifeline.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit, Pause offers a range of services, including “respite care for children with developmental, mental, and behavioral challenges,” says Founder and Executive Director Lisa McCoon.
“It also serves children with chronic medical conditions, learning disabilities and trauma, especially those in foster or kinship care,” she adds.
Located in Liberty Township, Pause provides parents with a safe place where their children can socialize, including programs for siblings.
For families like Ryan and Sarah Buckingham’s, Pause has made all the difference—especially for their 10-year-old son, Henry, who lives with autism. Their older son, Gavin, 12, has also benefited from the support Pause provides to siblings.
Thankful for Pause’s model of inclusivity, Sarah shares, “We found Pause when Henry was three. We occasionally attempted to have family outings before that, but Henry was an eloper. He would run down the street when upset and didn’t have the ability to self-regulate. Because he was not about to regulate his emotions, his behavior could manifest into fight or flight.”
Sarah continues, “Henry is now thriving. The very first time I dropped him off at Pause, I was a nervous wreck. Lisa just put him in her lap, later sending me pictures to let me know he’d calmed down.”
Pause is staffed by trained professionals and volunteers who plan activities for each child. McCoon highlights three essential components to these programs: a sensory-based environment that fosters confidence and joy, spaces for children to take breaks on their terms—engaging in STEM, art, science and play—and a team of more than 500 volunteers who provide fun while being equipped to handle medical needs.
For Ryan, the relief Pause adds is invaluable.
“If you don’t live with it each day, you don’t understand,” he says. “You can be in close proximity to people and still be worlds apart. There were days I wasn’t even sure we were going to make it.”
Beyond the programs, Pause has fostered a strong community of support. Ryan explains that the change in their family wasn’t just about the care Pause provided, but also the friendships they built along the way. This sense of community is something McCoon has witnessed time and again, with families forming lasting bonds.
“When a new family joins Pause, they are asked to share a wish for their family,” she explains. “Overwhelmingly, their wish is for their special needs child to make one friend.”
One of her favorite stories is how some boys placed in a small group developed a friendship that led to activities outside of the Pause walls.
“With the help of our volunteer leaders, [the boys] built a strong relationship,” which eventually led to the families getting together for King’s Island trips and pool parties that included siblings.
Pause recently held its annual fundraiser, raising more than $61,000, and is now gearing up for its Holiday Shoppe event. This free celebration invites families to enjoy games, crafts and sensory-friendly activities with a visit from Santa, all supported by 250 volunteers.
Pause emphasizes positive affirmation and building resilience, and McCoon sums up their mission statement in one sentence: “We exist to bring hope.”
Donate to or volunteer with Pause to help bring hope to special needs families.
Pause for Parents, Play for Kids | 5962 Hamilton Mason Road, Liberty Township | 513.885.7786
“We exist to bring hope.”