Village Businesses
Support other families of children with autism and other special needs! Every business below is run by a family walking the same road — when you book, shop, or share, you’re helping a village family thrive.
The businesses
Bibles and Coffee
Hand-painted, personalized Bibles, journaling supplies, and faith-filled gifts from Jackie and Mike Dausend — with a coffee-shop-meets-Bible-boutique home on West Main Street in downtown Murfreesboro. A lovely stop for a meaningful keepsake, made by hands that know your road.
Shop online or visit downtown Murfreesboro.
Sensory Space
A fully mobile sensory room that comes to you — birthday parties, school days, church events, or anywhere a calm-down space would change the day. Founded by James and Emily Erby after their daughter’s autism diagnosis at age two; wheelchair accessible, with packages from one to five hours.
Serves Middle Tennessee, traveling up to about two hours.
We Rock the Spectrum — Franklin
Andrea and Jason — parents whose son Jacob has developmental delays and special needs — own the Franklin We Rock the Spectrum kids gym. Their 5,600+ square-foot space in Williamson Square is built for children of all abilities: swings, zipline, trampoline, indoor play structure, arts and crafts, and a calming room, with the franchise promise of a place where you never have to say “I’m sorry.”
1113 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 203, Franklin, TN 37064(615) 807-1627info@werockthespectrumfranklintn.com
Open play Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (weekend hours: check their Facebook/Instagram or call ahead). Sister gyms also operate in Murfreesboro and Madison.
A.C.C.E.S.S.
Mercedes Lawson, M.S. Ed., is a parent of two neurodivergent children. She founded the Advocacy & Consultation Center for Educational Student Supports after years as a special-education and ESL teacher — and after navigating disability services in her own family. She helps parents, students, and teachers understand educational rights and build more equitable support at school. She is also in our directory, pinned first under IEP advocacy.
Free 30-minute consultation · website form at accessyouredu.com (opens in a new tab) · access.your.education@gmail.com
Little Luminaries Therapy Services
Little Luminaries, Our Special Village’s partner practice, is a play-based, neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy practice led by Dr. Taylor Hickok, MS, DBH, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and local parent. The practice serves clients ages 18 months to 99 with speech and language therapy, AAC evaluations and support, and parent and family coaching. Private pay and BlueCross BlueShield accepted.
1810 Ward Dr Suite #101, Murfreesboro(615) 900-4420
Kind Signs
Custom hand-painted banners and signs by Autumn Fotopoulos, made to order for birthdays, celebrations, and special-interest themes. Prices start at $30, with free local pickup in Murfreesboro or $15 shipping.
Gigi’s Vending Services
At Gigi’s Vending Services, our vision is to create an inclusive and empowering business that provides meaningful opportunities for individuals of all abilities while delivering convenient snacks and beverages to the communities we serve. Through dependable service, quality products, and a commitment to inclusion, we strive to be the vending service our customers can count on.
Light Hill Meats
Ben and Lauren Neale’s pasture-to-plate beef farm and USDA-inspected butcher shop — and through their nonprofit, Light Hill Ministries, the family behind Santa’s Sensory Wonderland every December, in partnership with Mindful Voices Autism Advocacy: a free, calm, sensory-friendly Santa experience with professional photos and crafts. This year it’s Saturday, December 12, at Marriott Cool Springs; see the calendar.
150 Stephen P. Yokich Pkwy, Suites E & F, Spring Hill · (931) 488-4631
Inch Journey + PHF Agency
Kaily Nakhoneinh is an immigrant mom homeschooling a neurodivergent child with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD. Through Inch Journey, she shares honest encouragement, curriculum ideas, and her family’s experience growing through homeschool one inch at a time. Her web-design and digital-marketing work for small businesses lives at PHF Agency — one village family, two businesses.
Pick Up the Pieces TN
Cari Parr helps families navigate autism, behavior, and disability through workshops, consultations, and free community education — one practice with services described, also listed in the directory’s parent coaching category.
pickupthepiecestn@gmail.com · (615) 427-8954 · Facebook-only online
Behavior Cubed
Kathleen’s practice offers parent coaching, IEP advocacy and education support, and behavioral sleep support through a neurodivergent-friendly approach — one practice, several services. She is also listed in the directory’s parent coaching category.
Camp Bow Wow Smyrna
Dog day care, overnight boarding, and grooming — a national franchise, locally owned by a family in the village.
200 Weakley Lane, Smyrna · (615) 619-4595
Fly Dance Fitness Mt. Juliet
Rachel Sanders is bringing inclusive, all-level dance, cardio, and strength classes to Mt. Juliet, with pop-up workouts available while the studio gets ready to open.
The Powder Room Salon & Spa
One of two businesses run by the same village family. See also Black Pearl LLC.
Facials, waxing, lash lifts and brow lamination, natural nails, spray tans, and hair — a locally owned salon and spa going on sixteen years, by appointment. The hour to yourself that special-needs parents rarely take.
321 C West McKnight Drive, Murfreesboro · (615) 319-4247
Black Pearl LLC
One of two businesses run by the same village family. See also The Powder Room Salon & Spa.
CNC fabrication, welding, panel building, PLC programming, and robotics — machining, custom fabrication, and industrial automation for other companies.
Revé’s Grooming Studio
Dog grooming in Murfreesboro from a groomer who has been at it for years — run by a family in the village. Book online (the booking page opens on their scheduling platform).
Sippin Mamas
Custom and personalized apparel plus laser-crafted wood work — the shirt for the walk team, the sign for the porch, the gift that says the thing out loud.
Six Southern Babes
Soft bamboo clothing designed in Middle Tennessee, with every style available as a medically adaptive option — the kind of detail only a family who has dressed around tubes and lines thinks to build in. The family also donates $1 from every purchase.
Smith Painting
Phillip Smith’s licensed and insured local painting business, run by a family in the village.
Call or text (615) 545-6515 · Facebook-only online
The Happy Hamper
Nikole’s woman-owned laundry service offers porch pickup, wash, dry, fold, and delivery around Murfreesboro — one less thing on a week that already has too many.
Wildflower Hair
Emily’s hair studio, run by a family in the village. (Not to be confused with Wildflower Learning Center, the preschool in our directory — different businesses, both worth knowing.)
Book online, or text 931-205-8373
Larkin Dye · Rustic Revival
Larkin’s studio in Christiana, just south of Murfreesboro, with a blonding specialty (the “Blonde Bombshell” services are the tell). Run by a family in the village.
Veritas Salon & Co.
Madison Vondohlen’s Nolensville salon, built around honesty, integrity, and grace. The team offers haircuts and styling, color and treatments, extensions, and event and bridal styling.
7340 Nolensville Rd, Suite 104, Nolensville · (615) 776-5333
veritassalon@veritassalon.com
Tue–Thu 9–7, Fri 9–5, Sat 9–3, closed Sun and Mon
Luana Cleaning Service
Regular, deep, and move-in/move-out cleaning across Middle Tennessee, Murfreesboro included — billed by the hour, no packages, no hidden fees. Run by a family in the village.
Wonder Spark Travel
Sabrina Estrada’s Nashville-based travel agency plans theme-park trips, cruises, and all-inclusive getaways for busy families — and, as a special-needs parent herself, she plans around the things other agents miss: accessible rooms, sensory pacing, dietary limits, airport help. She is also in our directory’s travel category.
Sadie Sloth and Her Spaghetti
Lauren Walczak’s children’s book about a fancy picky-eater sloth — written as a mom of a little girl on the autism spectrum, for families and therapists gently introducing new foods. Illustrated by Daniel Wlodarski.
Paperback on Amazon.
Special Scoops & Sweets
Special Scoops & Sweets creates inclusive job training, life-skills, and community opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Inspired by Jackson — and now Elle too — the family is starting with an ice cream cart in Eagleville while they work toward a permanent brick-and-mortar home.
Ice cream cart now in Eagleville; a permanent shop is the dream. Facebook-only online.
Becca’s Cozy Corner Studio
Becca Malone writes and illustrates for kids: three children’s books, two coloring books, and a chapter book so far, including The Carrot Chronicles. Look for her at local craft fairs and reading sessions — dates go on the calendar as she shares them.
Books are on her Amazon author page.
Run a business? Get on this page.
If your family is raising a child with special needs and running a small business — products, services, anything — we want to feature you here, free. The village shops with its own.
Tell us about your businessMore coming soon
This list grows as families raise their hands. Know a special-needs family with a business we should feature — even your neighbor’s? Send it in and we’ll reach out to them.
Want to support local families?
Business listings are never sold or ranked based on payment. Businesses and organizations that want to help fund Our Special Village can explore separate sponsorship opportunities.
Stay connected
NewsletterOne helpful email each month: the month ahead, deadline watch, what’s new in the library, and one hopeful story. Free, and no spam.
CalendarSensory-friendly events, support-group meetings, respite nights, and upcoming community programs around Middle Tennessee, updated regularly.
Online Support GroupA free, low-pressure hour with parents and caregivers who understand, online every Thursday from 7:00–8:00 PM. Cameras are optional and meetings are not recorded.
Village HallA monthly online conversation with a guest expert about one practical topic, followed by live Q&A. Registrants receive the presentation recording.