10 things you can do for Down syndrome Awareness Month

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and promoting acceptance for individuals with Down syndrome. This annual observance aims to educate the public about this genetic condition and celebrate the achievements and abilities of those who have it. If you’re looking for ways to get involved and show your support,…

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Best of All – Celine

“Celine thoroughly enjoys GiGi’s Kitchen Adult. During the COVID pandemic, GiGi’s was the bright spot in her week. In fact, at one point, she participated every week in TWO GiGi’s cooking classes from Hoffman Estates & Annapolis. She looked forward to seeing the same friends each week. Now, Celine has much better cooking skills than when she…

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Looking for a gift for a child with Down syndrome?

Searching for gift ideas for those with Down syndrome? It can be tricky knowing what will be fun while still providing an element of learning. We’ve curated a list of items that help improve various skills while keeping children engaged. Please look at our recommendations and how they benefit individuals with disabilities.   1) Beehive…

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Volunteer of the Year- Anna Bruce

Like many families involved with GiGi’s Playhouse, Anna Bruce found GiGi’s when her son, Camden, was born with Down syndrome. She was part of a group of people in the Southern Tier, New York, who led a pop-up Playhouse idea… but after a phone call in 2017, they ultimately realized they needed a permanent location…

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We Did It Because She Did It!!!!!

GiGi’s Playhouse made a major league splash recently when our namesake, GiGi Gianni, sang the National Anthem at the Chicago Cubs game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Our Cubbies won, by the way!) The singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the megaphone to amplify our message of acceptance by showing ability, not disability. This magnification received…

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Companies Support GiGi’s After Witnessing Passion for Mission

Pride and a sense of belonging are what encouraged Comprehensive Marketing Incorporated and Industrial Source Incorporated to become GiGi’s Playhouse partners in 2011 and 2013, respectively. In 2011 GiGi’s had nine Playhouses and 16 in 2013. Through board involvement, event sponsorship, promoting #GenerationG, volunteering, and so much more, Comprehensive Marketing and Industrial Source have been…

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National Volunteer Month 2022: Volunteers are Paramount in Helping us Change the Way the World Views Down Syndrome

April is National Volunteer Month! As an organization that is 99% volunteer-run, GiGi’s Playhouse is grateful for the opportunity this month offers to acknowledge and thank the countless volunteers who have helped us empower the Down syndrome community and promote global acceptance of our friends living with an extra chromosome. “Through her [Jill Rabin], my…

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Dear Autism

The following is a guest post Dear Autism, I saw you long before I acknowledged your existence. I witnessed you when Judah shook his Melissa and Doug duster and how he searched relentlessly for it every day. I skeptically enjoyed the way he mimicked all of his shows, suspecting that you were right around the…

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