Building Futures: How GiGi’s Playhouse Sugarland Is Empowering Adults with Down Syndrome

Lexi needed a job.

Like so many recent college graduates, she returned home with a degree in hand and the hope of meaningful employment. But unlike most grads, Lexi had one more hurdle: she has Down syndrome.

As a proud graduate of the Aggie ACHIEVE program at Texas A&M University, Lexi was ready to work, but options were limited. That’s when GiGi’s Playhouse Sugarland stepped in.

Lexi got involved with the Sugarland Playhouse, where she began working with Adult Program Manager Candace Cowdery, who had actually been Lexi’s high school teacher. Now reunited, the two picked up where they left off.

With a master’s degree in Special Education Transition Services and years of experience supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities—including her own brother—Candace brought both personal and professional expertise to the table. As part of the Playhouse’s expanding career-readiness programming, she and the team helped Lexi build the skills and confidence needed for the workplace.

When a local Mercedes-Benz dealership expressed interest in hiring someone with a disability, the GiGi’s team knew Lexi would be a great fit.  But they didn’t just send Lexi off with well wishes; they went to work making sure she was ready.

Before her first day, GiGi’s staff and interns visited the job site to learn the tasks firsthand. From scanning and sorting technical documents to navigating a complex coding system, they broke the job into manageable steps and created a personalized training manual just for Lexi. An intern from GiGi’s accompanied her weekly, helping her master the routine, build confidence, and transition into independence.

By Thanksgiving of that first year, Lexi had made enormous strides. One day, while GiGi’s was closed for the holiday, she went to work entirely on her own and did phenomenally.

From that point forward, Lexi didn’t need a job coach. She was ready.

Now, nearly two years later, Lexi continues to thrive at Mercedes-Benz, working independently twice a week. She’s even earned an Employee of the Month award!

Lexi’s journey from college grad to valued employee is inspiring, but she’s not alone. In fact, this summer, more than 60 adults with Down syndrome have been active participants in Sugarland’s adult programming. With over 90 adults engaged in the past two years, the demand is growing, and so is the impact.

Meeting the Need for a Growing Adult Community

As individuals with Down syndrome are living longer than ever before, the need for adult-focused services is skyrocketing. Access to state-funded programs is limited in many regions, including Texas, with waitlists that stretch decades.

This is where GiGi’s Playhouse Sugarland shines.

Their Achievers and Professionals programs offer purpose-driven learning and community connection. While Achievers serves a wide range of participants with varying interests and goals, Professionals is tailored to adults who have graduated from GiGi University and are seeking employment experiences.

The Sugarland Playhouse is also fostering entrepreneurship: adult participants design and sell handcrafted greeting cards and soaps through local partnerships with businesses like Magpies and the Railroad Museum gift shop. Families and businesses regularly place custom orders, providing both purpose and pride for the adults behind the work.

Their reach even extends beyond Texas. The greeting cards created in Sugar Land will soon be sold at the Hugs + Mugs Café inside our National Playhouse

But it goes beyond in-house programming; GiGi’s Sugarland is building bridges to employment through community internships. Thanks to partnerships with businesses like The Lavish Goat, Ocusoft, and the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, adults from the Professionals program have explored real-world work environments with real responsibilities. And like Lexi, some have even transitioned from intern to employee.

One participant, Vanessa, now has a job at The Lavish Goat after a successful internship. “She used to be shy, but now she tells everyone she has to go to work,” Cowdery said. “She’s proud.”

Another standout is Kiara, who gained both confidence and a paycheck during her internship at Ocusoft, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. From adjusting her routine (even giving up her signature nails!) to proudly talking about her job, Kiara’s transformation highlights just how empowering purposeful work can be. She wasn’t alone— Nicole, a longtime participant at GiGi’s Playhouse Sugarland, also interned at Ocusoft. Known for her work ethic and leadership, Nicole made a lasting impression during her internship!

These placements don’t happen by accident. The Sugarland team goes above and beyond to ensure success: scouting job sites, developing training manuals, and coaching interns through each step until they’re confident and independent.

GiGi’s Playhouse Sugarland is answering a critical need, one that is only growing as more adults with Down syndrome age into adulthood.

What’s happening in Sugarland reflects a nationwide shift across GiGi’s Playhouse locations: adults with Down syndrome are ready to thrive, and GiGi’s is making sure they do.