By Nikki Kallio | Photography by Hillary Schave
When Courtney Willegal’s six-year-old autistic son, Sean, suddenly went missing in a wooded area while her family was on a walk, she had to quickly contact emergency services to track him down.
“I found that a lot of first responders and youth- serving professionals were not knowledgeable of how to work with or interact with kids that had diagnoses,” says Willegal, owner and CEO of Keep Calm Tool Kits, LLC and The Sensory Zone.
She began training these groups on “how to be proactive versus reactive when working with kids that are ‘neurospicy’ or neurodiverse,” says Willegal, who has a background in clinical professional counseling, is a certified life coach and has worked in youth programming.
She launched Keep Calm Tool Kits, LLC, with Sean after his friends kept asking to use his pack of fidget toys. In April 2023, she opened the 11,000-square-foot The Sensory Zone, an inclusive indoor activity space on Madison’s East Side. Staff are trained in working with behaviors associated with ADHD, autism, anxiety and OCD. (Willegal notes all children are welcome.)
The program has served about 2,400 families with purposeful play areas, a respite/buddy program, after-school programs and day camps. In early 2025, Willegal plans to redesign The Sensory Zone’s toddler space into a sensory-based imaginative town. This fall, she’s planning the development of a second The Sensory Zone location on Madison’s West Side.
Willegal is also launching adult learning workshops for parents and caregivers on how to meet their child’s needs and to cope with stress.
She also plans to develop a new app for parents and caregivers with training, information and recommendations, and to provide more Keep Calm Tool Kits and resources for first responders.
“Helping families at The Sensory Zone has given my family a sense of purpose, knowing that no other family will lack the support and play resources their child needs to thrive in a stressful world,” she says.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
“… Be able to pivot and transition…. It doesn’t mean that you’re not successful … [but] maybe that idea is not perfect for right now — but [will be] in six months to a year from now.”
