Playdates for Special Needs Children and Families

The Leyla Strong Foundation’s Inclusive Play Dates Initiative provides free, sensory-friendly opportunities for neurodivergent children and children impacted by traumatic or acquired brain injuries to play, explore, and build meaningful connections in welcoming environments.

The program was created after recognizing how difficult it can be for families to find inclusive recreational activities where their children are understood and accommodated. Through community partnerships, the foundation hosts experiences designed to reduce isolation, connect caregivers with other families, and give children the opportunity to simply be children. To date, the initiative has hosted multiple play dates and continues to grow as the foundation works toward expanding access to inclusive play for even more families.

Meet Ashley and Leyla

Ashley Marion is the Founder and Executive Director of the Leyla Strong Foundation, a nonprofit created from her journey as a mother, caregiver, advocate, and concussion survivor. After her daughter, Leyla, sustained a traumatic brain injury in December 2022, Ashley turned one of the most difficult experiences of their lives into a mission to ensure families impacted by brain injury and neurodivergence feel supported, included, and connected.

Leyla’s resilience continues to inspire the foundation’s work and its belief that every child deserves the opportunity to play, grow, and belong. Together, Ashley and Leyla are turning pain into purpose by building community, increasing awareness, and creating inclusive experiences for families who often feel overlooked.