Build-Out
“Raise the Barr” Service Award Recipients 2020 & 2019
Happy Volunteer Awareness Month! Every year, our Playhouse Board of Managers selects a volunteer who goes above and beyond to support our participants and Playhouse families. This year, we are excited to announce our 2020 “Raise the Barr” Service Award recipient is Susannah Kavanaugh! Thank you Susannah for all you do to make our Dance…
Read MoreQuincy Guest Lectures at Rush University
Written by Kate Williams GiGi’s Playhouse and it’s many participants have adapted to unprecedented challenges over the past year. We have found ways to stay connected and continue growing despite our physical locations’ closure. An example of the way our community has been resilient (and even thriving) in the face of challenge is the development…
Read MoreWays to Celebrate on World Down Syndrome Day
11:30am – 12:30pm – Yoga with Patti and GiGi’s Young Adults Join us for a special yoga flow on World Down Syndrome Day, Sunday, March 21st from 11:30am-12:30pm! The yoga session will be led by our Playhouse young adults and yoga program leader Patti. Please consider a suggested donation of $35 to attend. With this…
Read MoreWhat Has Teen Tastic Been Up to This Year?
Written by Alexis Downes, Alexis Nacht, and Giovanna Savastano – Teen Tastic Group Leaders & Master’s Students in Occupational Therapy at University of Illinois at Chicago As we all know, this year has looked quite different than years in the past. However, Teen Tastic has resumed online and GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago teens have been…
Read MoreStaying Connected with Friends and Family: Fun Virtual Activities to Try at Home This Holiday Season
By Megan Beiler, OTS, Grace Hoak, OTS, Abigail Peters, OTS, & Kellie Reynolds, OTS Rush University Occupational Therapy Department This fall, we had the opportunity to run a six-week virtual EPIC social skills group for young adults at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. As 2nd year occupational therapy students at Rush University, we were looking forward…
Read MoreHow to Watch & Participate in the Dance-A-Thon
The biggest dance party of the year is almost here and we want to give you all the details on how to best enjoy, watch and participate in this years virtual Get Down with Down Syndrome Dance-A-Thon! What to do this Saturday, November 14th: 1. At 1:00 pm CDT, head over to our our GiGi’s…
Read MoreA Letter from Sunny – Occupational Therapy Intern
This past summer, I have had the pleasure of serving as an intern at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago as a part of my occupational therapy doctoral capstone experience. Over the course of my experience here, I have been welcomed with open arms by the staff, board members and volunteers. As I finish up my time as…
Read MoreHow YOUR Steps Keep Us Accepting
Since GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago has opened, we have been able to service a multitude of incredible families. As of now, we have over 560 families attending GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. Not only do these numbers reflect the enthusiastic participation and community GiGi’s has built, but also the need within the community. GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago is a…
Read MoreBe Mindful of Germs During FLU Season
Dear GiGi’s Families, Volunteers and Friends: We want you all to stay healthy, and help us keep our GiGi Families, Friends, and Volunteers as healthy as possible as we face the flu season and COVID-19 also know as the coronavirus. While the risk of getting COVID-19 in the United States remains low, GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago is…
Read MoreThe Start of Something Great: Creating new opportunities for young adults with Down syndrome one internship at a time.
This year GiGi’s Playhouse Thursday night programs have been extremely fortunate to get a programs intern, Emily Kwidzinski. As part of her internship, Emily has been helping program leaders members at GiGi’s with the full Thursday night programming: Teen Tastic, GetFit, Cooking Club, and Dance! Emily has been attending GiGi’s as a participant since she…
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