It all began with a crazy idea.

Sometimes the best ideas don’t start in a boardroom or with a perfect plan….they start with a need. A gap. A question that won’t let you go.

For me, that question was simple: Why isn’t there anything around here for kids like mine?

In our community, opportunities for children with higher support needs were few and far between. Sports teams, clubs, and recreation programs often weren’t designed with inclusion, or differences in mind. My own kids, and so many others, were left on the sidelines, watching (and probably flapping) instead of playing, wishing instead of belonging.

That didn’t sit right with me.

So, with no roadmap, no blueprint, and (honestly) a little bit of fear, I decided to create something. I had a “crazy idea” to start a non profit to offer recreational opportunities where differences weren’t just accepted, or tolerated, they were celebrated. Where every child, no matter their abilities or needs, could experience the joy of play, friendship, and belonging.

What started as a plan for for (yes, 4) small events quickly grew. Families showed up. Kids laughed, learned, and thrived. Parents shared stories of finally finding a space where their children were welcomed just as they are. That so-called “crazy idea” became the heartbeat of Encompass Recreation.

Today, we continue to grow with one simple mission: to create inclusive spaces that remind kids, and their families, that they belong here. Always.

Because sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be the most important ones.