STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- "Finally a place where you never have to say you're sorry," is the slogan for We Rock the Spectrum Children's Gym.

The first of it's kind on Staten Island, We Rock the Spectrum is a "sensory" workout for children with autism, special needs, neurotypical development and other developmental disabilities.

Founder Dina Kimmel launched the franchise in her hometown of Tanzania, Calif. She did it for her son, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, after being unable to find a place that stimulated him and that he also enjoyed.

"As an autism parent were constantly having to say 'I'm sorry' to the other parents and now we don't have to do that anymore," Kimmel said, hence the slogan.

Kimmel's daughter is also neurotypical so they could finally have a place where they can play together: "I said to my husband that there has to be other families like us where we can go out there and pay it forward."

And voila!

Staten Island owners James and Adrienne Grosso were having the same problem with their 5-year-old son, Andrew, who is autistic.

"We would take him to the arcade and he would just run back-and-forth," James said. "I still have the bag of coins from all of the games that he never played."

After a grueling 20 months of red tape from the Buildings Department and other agencies, We Rock the Spectrum finally opened on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Dozens of children, parents, volunteers and employees packed out the gym, located at 639 Veterans Road West.

Boys and girls smiled as they zipped from one end of the gym to the other on the indoor zip line, while others bounced happily on the trampoline, went down the slide or whirled around on the many different kinds of swings.

All of these play options are considered sensory equipment and used in various forms of occupational therapy.

Note: While made for children with developmental disabilities, any child is welcome at to come play at the gym.

"It's all about inclusion," Grosso said.

The Grosso's are also employing adults with developmental disabilities to work at the gym, citing that "there's so many special needs adults that don't have jobs and want to work."

Stacey Fiet said she's happy that her 5-year-old son, Gavin, has a place to play indoors.

"He's holding on to that swing for dear life but look at that smile on his face," Fiet said. "It took him a little while to warm up but he's having a great time. We really needed a place like this on Staten Island."

More information about We Rock the Spectrum can be found on the gym's website.

We Rock the Spectrum is the borough's first open-play gym; however, there are other physical and occupational therapy offices on Staten Island that have similar sensory gym equipment.