A 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...
GiGi’s Summer of Art
This summer, GiGi’ Playhouse Chicago is collaborating with artists within the Midwest and Texas to create art with GiGi’s Playhouse heart in mind. Through this collaboration, we are able to continue to provide support to our amazing families with the resources GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago provides. With that, we have been...
How 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....
Occupational Therapy Month at GiGi’s
Written by Anna Machuga, OTD Student April is Occupational Therapy (OT) Month! As I finish up my time as the GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago OT Intern, I wanted to talk about the importance of occupational therapy, my role at the Playhouse, and explain how OT is integrated into the Playhouse in...
Meet Our Interns!
In January of 2020 with the help of our occupational therapy intern Anna, GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago was able to bring on 4 interns! They worked three to six hours per week where they gained the skills of following a specific routine, asking for help, and understanding job expectations and tasks. As a special bonus, they also got...
Meet Sofia! One of Our Many Dancing Queens!
"Our Dance & Yoga program provides participants with opportunities to work on their coordination and attention skills, along with supporting their confidence and promoting their social participation. Program activities include memorizing and executing the dance moves of a choreography or of a yoga routine, taking the leadership role and showing a...
Be 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...
The Start of Something Great: Creating new opportunities for young adults with Down syndrome one internship at a time.
Emily posing with her co-presenters and Thursday night program leaders (from the right): Sydney W., Amanda P., Paulina P., Emily K., Jenny P., and Lisa L. This year GiGi’s Playhouse Thursday night programs have been extremely fortunate to get a programs intern, Emily Kwidzinski. As part...
Registration NOW OPEN for Amina Grace 1:1 Speech and Language Program
Our Amina Grace 1:1 Speech and Language Program enrollment is NOW OPEN for the 2020 Spring Session! Registration will be open until Thursday, January 16th at 12pm. The Spring 2020 session will start Monday, January 20th and will run for 15 weeks ending May 10th. Please click HERE if you are...
A Letter from our Occupational Therapist Students
As the year 2020 is slowly approaching, our amazing UIC Occupational Therapist Student Program Leaders are getting ready to make the transition out of their current program leading rolls to make room for our brand new group of UIC Occupational Therapist Students. Paulina and Amanda took some time to reflect...
Welcome Bruce!
Bruce is most known as GiGi’s Art Explosion! instructor and literacy tutor, but he has a past. Bruce is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has lived in Chicago for more than 20-years. Bruce earned his BFA from Carnegie-Mellon University; A Certificate from the Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy;...
September Programs
Programs for All Ages at GiGi's Playhouse Chicago *RSVP for all programs using our calendar* Pre-Crawlers/Crawlers and Walkers/Runners September 14th, 9:00am - 10:00am and 10:00am - 11:00am The Crawlers and Walkers program focuses on the development of gross and fine motor skills through activities that are hands-on and fun!...
