On October 24 the Des Moines Register ran a story about GiGi’s Playhouse and the ‘i have a voice’ Traveling Galleries!  

Health Professional Profile: Advocate for Down’s awareness

Bargstadt has stake as mom, president of GiGi’s Playhouse

Daniell Bargstadt had sought a place to gather socially and learn from fellow parents raising children with Down syndrome. After learning about a center providing just that — GiGi’s Playhouse in Illinois — she and other families raised money to open a center in Sioux City in 2009. GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines soon followed.

Bargstadt, who now lives in Creston and serves as board president at the Des Moines center, works with other families to raise awareness through efforts like the “i have a voice” photo gallery, currently on display at Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines.

Q: What’s your personal connection to Down syndrome?

My youngest daughter, Olivia Ann, was born with Down syndrome in 2005. It was an unexpected diagnosis after delivery, a total surprise to our family, but a real blessing. Olivia has changed everyone drastically, all for the better.

Q: How important has GiGi’s Playhouse been for Iowa families?

GiGi’s Playhouse means so many things to so many people. Mainly it is a gathering place where no one is judged by their disability or ability, what they have, or are accomplishing. We are an education center that offers literacy and math tutoring for learners aged 3 to 99+. Our programming includes social boundaries classes, music and speech therapy and Friday Friends. We hope to add handwriting and a more intense phonics class in the coming year.

Q: What’s the goal of the “i have a voice” traveling exhibit?

The galleries are amazing. GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines has two of four galleries across the nation. Ours feature 42 beautiful, local faces of adults and children with Down syndrome. It is about spreading Down syndrome awareness, changing outdated perspectives and stereotypes into positive ones.

We felt showcasing how much these individuals have similar everyday lives, interests and loves as any person their age was important. These galleries can be booked to travel to schools, libraries, colleges, businesses and expos across the nation.

Q: What are some misconceptions about Down syndrome?

• Maternal age. While the chances of having a child with Down syndrome increase with age, an estimated 85 percent of children with it are born to mothers under age 35.

• All individuals with Down syndrome look the same. As you can see from the ‘i have a voice’ gallery, that is not true. Each person looks like their family and has their own unique personality.

• People with Down syndrome are always happy. They have feelings just like everyone . They might be more accepting to your apology and more easily understanding that your intentions were not to harm anything.

• Person first language. It is important to talk about the individual first, not the disability. My daughter has Down syndrome; she is not my Down syndrome daughter.