Hello
Welcome to My Hiding Place, a Washington State approved 501(c)(3) before & after school program for ages 2–6. We offer a calm, creative, and developmentally informed space where every child’s way of communicating is honored. We observe growth, translate nonverbal signals, and partner with families to turn daily moments into learning, connection, and confidence. We create sensory-aware routines and developmentally targeted activities that support early language, motor skills, emotional regulation, and social confidence for toddlers and early learners.
My Story
Elaina Imani is a mother of five, a disability rights advocate, and the founder of My Hiding Place. With more than 20 years of direct experience supporting children and adults with special needs, Elaina combines lived insight and professional expertise to design programs that truly meet family needs across the lifespan.
Lived Experience and Advocacy
As the proud parent of an Autistic adult and a child with Trisomy 21, Elaina offers firsthand understanding of transitions, long-term planning, and the everyday realities families face. Her advocacy is informed by personal experience and a deep commitment to dignity, access, and meaningful opportunity for people with disabilities.
Program Development and Systems Expertise
Elaina has a strong track record in program design, grant writing, nonprofit financial modeling, and operational management for inclusive services. She has led legal and administrative efforts for families, including drafting guardianship petitions, filing civil actions and appeals, and resolving complex benefits and systems challenges.
Collaborative Network Building
Elaina builds person-centered supports through active partnerships with parents, mental health professionals, therapists, primary caregivers, educators, and community stakeholders, ensuring services are multidisciplinary, practical, and family-driven.
Creative Leadership and Mission
A multidisciplinary artist and empowerment coach, Elaina blends creative development with evidence-informed practice. Under her leadership, My Hiding Place functions as a sanctuary and social enterprise that empowers children with special needs to grow, create, and build independence through therapeutic supports, arts-based programming, and entrepreneurial pathways.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
509-210-7526