Nogales, AZ: Autism center adds "sensory-friendly gym"

Oct 21, 2026, KOLD, Tucson, AZ:  New sensory-friendly gym opens in Nogales

A new autism resource center is providing a sensory-friendly play space for students and a supportive community for parents in Nogales.

For years, Nogales parents with autistic children had to travel to Tucson or Phoenix for help.

The Stimming Co is the first dedicated space in Nogales for children with autism.

Victoria Villa and Ashley Wilson co-founded The Stimming Co. They said they had different experiences with diagnosis and treatment early on.

Villa said she expected her son’s diagnosis around 18 months.

“He wasn’t walking, he wasn’t speaking, he didn’t like certain textures,” Villa said.

Wilson said her daughter was doing well but then started regressing.

“She had started making all these developments, and then she started regressing on the milestones – stopped talking, stopped reacting when we called her name,” Wilson said.