Posts by Jennifer Paganessi
Getting to know Aubrey
If you have attended LMNOP, GiGi Kitchen Adult, or even stepped into GiGi’s Playhouse in Hoffman Estates, you may have seen Aubrey’s smiling face around the playhouse. Aubrey is one of GiGi Ambassadors and she has a heart of gold. She is always willing to give a helping hand and participate in any program at…
Read MoreWelcome Sabrina, our new speech pathologist
Happy Friday, GiGi’s Playhouse! We hope you all had a great week and are enjoying your summer. We have another new staff joining our family! Sabrina Brucato is a speech pathologist who graduated from Columbia University in New York City. Her passion for speech therapy began watching her younger sister Alyssa, who has Down Syndrome,…
Read MoreGiGi’s Amina Grace Speech & Language at Home!
GiGi’s Playhouse Hoffman Estates to proud to serve our families with the FREE 1:1 Amina Grace Speech & Language Program. Yes even during this season where we need to be home, GiGi’s is coming to participants right where they are! We are seeing big impacts in the lives of our or hard-working participants and are…
Read MoreFebruary 2020 Newsletter
Chicagoland Gala This Saturday! Still time to get your tickets! Join us on an EXTRA day, to celebrate an EXTRA chromosome, at an EXTRA special celebration! The A Little Something Extra Gala doubles as the party of the year and our biggest annual fundraiser, allowing us to continue providing FREE programming to individuals and families with Down syndrome while sending a…
Read MoreFall Into Acceptance: Generation G
Generation G is an ongoing journey of global acceptance. Differences do not discriminate. We are all one birth, one accident, one diagnosis or one other defining moment away from being different, or loving someone who may be different. Program achievements at GiGi’s Playhouse are great victories. These achievements do not guarantee lasting acceptance for someone with…
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Overcoming the Obstacles
Kaytlin was born on February 11, 2012. We did not have a pre-diagnosis of Down syndrome. Shortly after she was born, she was placed in the NICU because her oxygen levels were low. I will never forget this night for as long as I live. The neonatologist bust through our room (even though the…
Read MoreJames’ Bond
“See the way his eyes are?…. See the way his nose is?…. These are signs of Down syndrome.” I still remember the way my doctor “broke the news.” So matter-of-fact…. So nonchalant. My first reaction was “Awww, that’s too bad.” Then, of course, I cried. I guess everyone does. I hear stories about how sad…
Read MoreSeeing is Believing
“Seeing is believing”. This is a phrase I often use to describe my journey with my daughter. When she was little, people would tell me she was going to sit up, walk, talk, feed herself, dress herself and play like other kids. I hear them, but I still kept wondering… okay, but when?! Then, as…
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