GiGi Gianni, Down Syndrome Influencer, Launches National Speaking Tour “Born to be Heard” — A Movement to Give Every Voice a Chance to be Heard
CHICAGO, November 18, 2025 – GiGi Gianni, the 23-year-old namesake and Chief Inspiration Officer of GiGi’s Playhouse — the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers — will launch her national speaking tour, Born to be Heard, on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Michigan Shores Country Club in Wilmette,...
How To Promote Down Syndrome Acceptance on Social Media
Social media can be a powerful tool for change… when it’s used with intention and respect. If you’re wondering how to talk about Down syndrome online in a way that actually promotes acceptance, you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t need a huge platform to make a meaningful impact....
Can People with Down Syndrome Date and Get Married?
Love is universal. Chromosomes don’t limit the desire for connection, companionship, and marriage; it’s part of being human. Since October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we’re taking time to challenge some of the most common myths about what life with Down syndrome really looks like. One question we hear often...
10 Famous People with Down Syndrome: Raising Acceptance in the Media
Ever dreamt of walking a red carpet, competing on a global stage, or starring in your favorite movie? These ten incredible individuals with Down syndrome are not just dreaming it. They are living it! These famous people with Down syndrome represent a powerful wave of actors, elite athletes, international models,...
Down Syndrome Awareness vs. Acceptance: Why Awareness Isn’t Enough
Many view awareness as a destination. They believe that giving society exposure to a group of people, like those with Down syndrome, is the endgame. They treat Down Syndrome Awareness Month as a box to check. But at GiGi’s Playhouse, we see it differently. We view awareness as the beginning,...
Ways to Promote Down Syndrome Acceptance
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month (DSAM). At GiGi’s Playhouse, we’re celebrating with 31 Ways in 31 Days, a fun and meaningful challenge designed to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and spread acceptance for individuals with Down syndrome. While Down syndrome acceptance may feel especially timely in October, these 31 actions...
Celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Year-Round: Resources for Support & Acceptance
For many, October means Halloween, pumpkin patches, and crisp fall air. But for others, it represents something even more meaningful: Down syndrome awareness. October is nationally recognized as Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It's a time to educate, advocate, and celebrate the incredible contributions of individuals with Down syndrome. However, while...
Building Futures: How GiGi’s Playhouse Sugarland Is Empowering Adults with Down Syndrome
Lexi needed a job. Like so many recent college graduates, she returned home with a degree in hand and the hope of meaningful employment. But unlike most grads, Lexi had one more hurdle: she has Down syndrome. As a proud graduate of the Aggie ACHIEVE program at Texas A&M University,...
Starting Small, Dreaming Big: LMNOP Expands Its Reach in Nigeria
When Tola Makinde first visited GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities nearly a decade ago, she was a young mom from Nigeria searching for answers, community, and hope for her daughter, Mo, who was born with Down syndrome. That single visit planted a seed. When Tola first visited a GiGi’s Playhouse in...
Learning Is Hard for All of Us: Why GiGi’s Playhouse Tutoring Matters
Reading is hard. Math can be even harder. We’ve all been there before — we see a word we don’t recognize, or a math problem we can’t solve, and we get stuck. Whether it happens in the classroom or at home, it’s frustrating. For individuals with Down syndrome, the implications...
The 62nd Playhouse: GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston marks a new beginning
Unlimited. Underestimated. Unapologetic. At GiGi’s Playhouse, we believe in the power of potential, not just in the individuals with Down syndrome we serve but also in the communities that can bring our mission to life. The opening of GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston, our 62nd Playhouse to open, is a perfect example....
MYTH-BUSTING: Are people with Down syndrome always happier?
(“Myth-busting” is a multi-part blog series where we tackle all things Down syndrome: misconceptions, half-truths, and fabrications. We’re setting the record straight, once and for all.) We’ve all been there before. No matter how hard we try to stay positive, we have moments where our mood dips. Whether it’s a...
