Awareness
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…
Read MoreYour advocacy is making a difference!
The Down Syndrome Coalition, along with our colleagues from the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN), Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group-USA (DSMIG), International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association (IMDSA), and National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG), and in partnership with our self-advocates and families, succeeded in removing discriminatory language from an important healthcare…
Read MoreTo Fully Celebrate Diversity, We Must Understand Intersectionality
Intersectionality certainly turns the chessboard of diversity into one that is multi-dimensional. Without intersectionality, diversity becomes a singular layer where people of that category of equality are myopically fighting for their own piece of discriminatory turf. The basis for intersectionality is how various portions of an individual’s makeup can be discriminated against – with adverse…
Read MoreBarry Books and Cooks Inspiration at 60!
At 60 years of age, Barry Burris is the oldest participant at GiGi’s Playhouse in Fort Meyers, Florida. A few years ago, Barry decided to improve his literacy skills. He was a level two reader at the time and had not received any formal literacy instruction since high school. With help from GiGi’s Playhouse One-On-One…
Read MoreHappiness and Down syndrome
Many people have the misperception that individuals with Down syndrome are always happy. I have a few thoughts about happiness and Down syndrome. First, if you think this, then you’ve probably never interacted with a hormonal teenager with Down syndrome. Jade, like most people, experiences a broad range of emotions, including anger, sadness, annoyance, disappointment,…
Read MoreSustainability against all odds
Whenever I read that quote, I get a flutter of excitement in my stomach and a sick feeling at that same time! Absence of fear?? It was the fear of watching 17 years of groundbreaking work crumble that propelled me to action throughout 2020 and catapulted us into 2021! When people were talking about binge-watching…
Read MoreA Black Mother’s Journey with a Son with Down Syndrome
A Black Mother’s Journey with a Son with Down Syndrome Meet Meeka Caldwell and her son, Anian. Meeka is a wife, mother, author, and dedicated advocate in the Down syndrome community. Anian is a curious 6 year old who loves people and loves to help others. He is a problem solver, has a great…
Read More5 Back to School Tips Amid COVID-19 Spread
5 Back to School Tips Amid COVID-19 Spread Going back to school amid the COVID-19 spread is on the top of all our minds. For many families—whether children are heading to pre-K or high school—stress levels are high, and parents are struggling with the decision of what is best for their individual situation. No matter your decision regarding virtual or in-person learning, these 5…
Read MoreMaevis’s Down Syndrome diagnosis
By Rose Busque It’s been about a year since we got confirmation on Maevis’s Down Syndrome diagnosis. It has me reflecting a lot. Let’s start from the beginning. We opted to not have the prenatal genetics test. We figured that if anything bad was happening we would see it in the ultrasounds and DS (Down…
Read MoreNEW! Spanish Programs for GiGi’s At Home
Spanish Programs now available for GiGi’s At Home! At GiGi’s Playhouse, we see potential, ability, and possibility. So, when COVID-19 hit, strategies were sought and adjustments were quickly made to continue serving our participants virtually. We are happy to share that we recently launched GiGi’s At Home on demand programming in Spanish. The educational programs…
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