Introducing Scott

By Christy Bouziotis

In this blog post, we continue to spotlight the range of participants GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough serves and purposeful programs we offer—for newborn through adult!

Recently, we introduced you to Noah Diaz, who first came to GiGi’s at just six weeks old.

Today, we are pleased to introduce you to Scott Scalise! Scott is 47 years old, and he started coming to GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough in 2015 when our doors first opened. “I thank heaven for GiGi’s” says Scott’s mom Judi. “It gets me to get Scott out and involved and socializing with friends!”

Scott is a regular at GiGi’s TEAM and Fantastic Friends programs, and he also participates in literacy tutoring. “Scott’s articulation, speech and language development, and overall confidence have greatly improved since he started tutoring, “Judi says, adding with a chuckle. “An unexpected benefit…his curses now come out clear as a bell!”

Scott singing at Fantastic Friends

Judi, mother of four, remembers clearly how different it was in the initial days after giving birth to Scott. “No one really knew how to help me,” she says. “But the nurse happened to have two children with Down syndrome, and she said to me: Take him home and love him.”

Some family members weren’t as positive and encouraging, though, and suggested on multiple occasions that Judi should put Scott away for others to care for him. Although the years have been filled with ups and downs, Judi doesn’t at all regret not heeding that advice. When it comes to help and solutions, Judi points to GiGi’s. “If you are a parent of a child with Down syndrome and you come here,” she says, “you have come to the right place.”

Some of Scott’s passions are old-time music, 70s sitcoms, and bowling. And he loves coming to programs at GiGi’s. Participating in GiGi’s programs has improved Scott’s social skills, independence, decision making, and overall confidence. This is very important since Scott lives in a group home with 4 other adults. At his home, Scott is in charge of the weekly grocery shopping, and he is quite meticulous about keeping track of needed items and getting everything on the list.

Judi & Scott at the 2019 “i have a Voice” Gala

“Seeing his self-sufficiency improve is a great comfort to me, “Judi says, “because one of my greatest fears—and this is something many parents of adult children with Down syndrome feel—is worrying if Scott will be okay someday when I’m not here. It’s a very scary thing, and I often think that if I could just live one minute longer than him, I’d be at peace.”

“My one regret is that I didn’t find something like this sooner,” Judi adds. “I see how much the younger kids benefit from the programs at GiGi’s, and it is really beneficial to get an early start.”

Looking back, though, what Judi feels most about raising Scott is joy. “These 47 years with Scott have brought me great joy. And my advice to new parents would be what I was told years ago: take your child home and love him.”