The Dream of The Nest
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The Nest began with a single question: What if a mall offered a space built for regulation, comfort, and connection instead of noise, pressure, and overwhelm? Many families leave early when someone becomes overstimulated. Autistic teens and adults often mask until they shut down. Professionals struggle to find quiet, sensory-aware places to meet. These needs are real, and The Nest is being created to respond to them.
The Nest is designed as a calm, predictable environment where anyone can pause, settle, and continue their day. The regulation lounge offers soft seating, dim lighting, quiet corners, hammocks, and weighted blankets. Families gain a way to stay longer through structured, low-stimulation activities in a supervised, parent-on-site model. Autistic teens and adults have a place to regulate without masking. Professionals have access to private, sensory-aware offices with soft lighting, reduced echo, and low visual distraction. Support is welcome, and loved ones can wait comfortably in the lounge.
A low-stimulation classroom hosts workshops, support groups, trainings, homeschool meetups, and therapeutic programs. The espresso bar provides supportive job training for autistic adults. The Nest is built as a gold standard model of true accessibility, centered on regulation, predictability, sensory comfort, and dignity. This extends into the community through future “Nest Certified” autism friendly training for Salem businesses.
At its core, The Nest is based on one belief: public spaces should support more people than they currently do. Families deserve support, autistic adults deserve access, professionals deserve sensory stability, and everyone deserves environments where regulation is expected and respected. The Nest is the space we are working to build for all of this to happen.