This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Art becomes entertainment and therapy in the partnership between the TinkerMill and the Autism Society of Boulder County (ASBC).
Longmont’s TinkerMill, located at 1840 Delaware Place, Colorado’s makerspace offers free membership to individuals with autism and one caregiver, both must be at least 14 years-old.
Since 2017, the TinkerMill has partnered with the Autism Society of Boulder County (ASBC) to bring those memberships to the autism community.
"Parents have told me that the TinkerMill is one of their safe spots," ASBC President Lynn Wysolmierski says. A safe spot may make the difference between a comfortable time creating, or a sense of not belonging. "TinkerMill's staff and volunteers are inclusive and welcoming.”
Many people with autism seek ways to meet their sensory needs. Places like the TinkerMill offer the unique type of space where they can be comfortable with hands-on experimenting and building.
TinkerMill Executive Director, Ron Thomas, says Longmont's creative space promotes "Radical inclusivity. Members choose how to best use the TinkerMill for their own projects. People who want a more unstructured space can have it. They can be social or left alone to work."
Thomas also states that the tools and workshop space at the TinkerMill help members think outside the box by giving them the tools they need to explore their ideas."We challenge each other.”
There is a growing trend for organizations to include groups of all abilities, and the TinkerMill is in a unique position to provide a community space to those with more specialized needs.
Children and adults with ADS may not find many places that are accepting of their particular type of active creativity.
TinkerMill Executive Director Ron Thomas says Longmont's creative space promotes "radical inclusivity." He says the tools and workshop space at the TinkerMill help members think outside the box by giving them the tools they need to explore their ideas.
"We challenge each other," Thomas says. Members choose how to best use the TinkerMill for their own projects. "People who want a more unstructured space can have it. They can be social or left alone to work."
Thomas says members at the TinkerMill come from neighboring states just to enjoy the supportive atmosphere and the equipment provided by the organization. There are even members who have moved to Longmont specifically to be near it.
The need for such partnerships is growing as Boulder and surrounding counties grow in population. Families in search of autism support groups, events, and scholarship connections can search for assistance at the ASBC. They might also find swim lesson information and educational programs for caregivers. It is a volunteer-run, charitable non-profit corporation that relies on grants, proceeds from fundraisers, and donations.
According to the ASBC's website, its mission is "to help individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families develop a strong, united community by creating opportunities for people to connect, share experiences, and build new relationships."
The TinkerMill is also a non-profit entity supported by membership fees and outside donations. Its roots in Longmont were put down first at the old mall at Village at the Peaks before it moved downtown. At its current address on Delaware Place, the TinkerMill offers 3D printing machines, woodworking and forging tools, ceramics supplies, and robotics workplace lab, among other equipment the average maker may not be able to have access to daily.
