Posts Tagged ‘Down syndrome’
July 2021 Programs
GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough has resumed in-person group programs starting July 5, 2021! The full program schedule is available on our online calendar for participants and volunteers to sign up, but you can read all the details below. Going forward, all participants are required to register before attending a program. As space is limited for health…
Read MoreWhy I MOVE for Acceptance
It’s no secret that I love being an advocate for the Down syndrome community. So when an event like the GiGiFit Acceptance Challenge comes along, I give it 110% of myself, both personally and professionally. I am not moving for acceptance just because I work for GiGi’s Playhouse. I move for my niece Zhara, I…
Read MoreHow GiGi’s Playhouse Plays an Important Role in the Inclusion Process
by Carol Croll Inclusion. It’s the buzzword that parents of children who have Down syndrome begin hearing as soon as their new baby is born. Most people think of inclusion as “just a school thing.” However, inclusion is everywhere! It takes place at family gatherings, community events, jobs, religious organizations, amusement parks, supermarkets, and any…
Read MoreDown Syndrome and the Sibling Dynamic
by Megan Labuda There are many questions we have as parents raising a child with Down syndrome. My daughter Penny is 10 years old. In addition to rocking her extra chromosome, she is on the autism spectrum. I remember a particular concern came to mind when Penny was just around 12 months old and we…
Read MoreMeet our 2021 Gala Chair Renay Stover!
Introducing our 2021 Gala Chair, Renay Stover! As you may know, the Gala is our most important annual fundraiser, during which we celebrate the progress of our participants, recognize and thank our supporters, and also raise the critical funds needed to help us continue offering FREE programs to the Down syndrome community. Themed “A Party…
Read MoreWhat I Wish I Told My Doctor
GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough release of a brief but very powerful video What I Wish I Told My Doctor, produced to promote Down syndrome acceptance. The clip features Playhouse mom and board member Melissa, who speaks of the trials and hardship she faced when, at 18 weeks of pregnancy, it was discovered that her child likely…
Read MoreBringing Our Love for Karate to GiGi’s
by Brody and Luke Bouziotis About three years ago, we began volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse because we needed to complete community service hours for Boy Scouts. Since we had just earned our Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do, we decided to sign up to volunteer at the program named Karate Kickers. The program leader at…
Read MoreThank You Mia, Lily, Jessica, Luke and Brody!
Closing the doors for in-person programming due to COVID-19 was a necessary decision for the safety of our program participants and volunteers. GiGi’s Playhouse quickly leapt into action and created GiGi’s at Home. I was amazed by the number of volunteers who stepped up to create content and lead live programs. Within days of suspending…
Read MoreA Day in the Life of a Parent Homeschooling
GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough Parent and Board Secretary Andrea Maio shares her adventures in homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. How to survive home-schooling, please don’t give up your loved one with Down syndrome needs you more than ever! Day 1: 8:00 am= How difficult would this be? Let me go over the homework folder (100 papers?)…
Read MoreWhy I Tutor
by Kathy Fulham My introduction to GiGi’s was definitely different than many other volunteers, who oftentimes are relatives or friends of participants. Although I live in a different town and had never heard of GiGi’s back then, there was a precious part of my family history that, unbeknownst to me, connected me to it. I…
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