Meet Dawn – A New Face at GiGi’s
Every GiGi’s Playhouse is filled with an incredible team of volunteers each bringing their unique skills and passion to continue equipping all the GiGi’s participants to ACHIEVE! Today, let’s meet Dawn!
“Let’s jump up and down to warm up!” “Now follow me through the obstacle course!”
Hmm, you might be wondering who would provide those above instructions. How about a pediatric occupational therapist? That would be me! I’m Dawn Reichman and I’ve worked in schools as an Occupational Therapist for over 20 years. I always knew that I wanted to be in a career surrounded by children.
GiGiFIT Kids
I also have a profound hearing loss, since birth. My parents went the oral and lipreading route by moving from NY to CA to learn speaking skills at the John Tracy Clinic. After a year though, my mom was homesick so they moved back. I grew up with 100% integration in schools, plus resource and speech services. I graduated from Washington Univ in St Louis, obtained my master’s in Occupational Therapy at Tufts in Boston, moved to Chicago, met my husband on a blind date, and traded one hearing aid for a cochlear implant. Adapting to it, while planning one’s wedding, was stressful! The cochlear implant was a success but I still rely heavily on lipreading for communication.
What about sign language? Good question! I attended a ballet class in NYC for deaf girls in my late elementary years. My friend/carpoolmate and I were the only oral students. So, we learned ASL (American Sign Language), along with our families, and used it for 2 years. I resumed it when I got my first job as a teacher’s aide at a multi-disabilities school. I continued to enjoy being with and working with children.
When my kids became independent teens, in 2018, I opened up my private practice, Handwriting Picasso, to work closely with children on handwriting, fine motor, gross motor, motor planning, and executive functioning skills. Then Covid hit and my business dived. As we started to come out of hibernation, I looked into volunteer opportunities. I dabbled in several opportunities and recently connected with Cassie! She shared the philosophy and her love of GiGi’s; I was already drawn in!
Currently, you can find me at GiGi’s, running the Fitness Programs! I bring my OT knowledge to help improve trunk core, motor planning, and motor coordination skills in the activities. I also have always been aware that I do best in communications with direct eye contact and use of visuals/demonstrations; I utilize these strategies with my clients and a big strength that I’m bringing to GiGi’s. I look forward to forming connections as a volunteer there!
When not at GiGi’s, I enjoy pickleball, yoga, my kids when home for summer and holidays, hanging with my husband, baking choc chip cookies, and dogs.
Thank you to Dawn for being an amazing example of GiGi’s Playhouse core values. We are so lucky to have you at our playhouse using your expertise and enthusiasm to motivate our participants to reach their #bestofall.
We are currently looking for more volunteers to help us deliver GiGiFIT Infant, GiGiFIT Toddler, and GiGiFIT Teen. If you may be interested in leading one of these programs email us at Deerfield@gigisplayhouse.org. You can also sign up for the next Virtual Volunteer Orientation and learn of the different opportunities available to those wanting to get involved!
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