Play Cafe keeps neurodivergent social circle active beyond high school

AZTEC, N.M. – Piper’s Play Cafe in Aztec has grown into a foundation that gives people with disabilities more chances to work, build skills and connect after high school.

Since opening in November 2025, Piper’s has expanded from a play cafe into a foundation that supports families across the community.

Founder Madison Smith said opportunities can be hard to find for people with disabilities after they leave the school system. She said that includes people like Dominique Trujillo, who has Down syndrome and now gets the chance to learn new skills at the cafe.

“She deserves to have places when she comes and visits her dad to go engage in work and interact with the community, and develop all these other skills that everyone else has the opportunity to,” Smith said.

Smith said the foundation also holds monthly play dates for neurodivergent children to give families a comfortable space to spend time together.

“We need to do something for these kiddos because not only for their mental health, but their parents’ mental health as well,” Smith said.

The cafe is also offering free play passes through the end of December to families with children dealing with the impacts of recent flooding.

“I would really like to take the opportunity to just ask our community and all of our other business owners to please consider opening a neurodivergent program, and offering the opportunity for individuals to work because everyone is equal,” Smith said.

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