Thanks to the hard work of our Ohio Playhouses, all soon-to-be parents in Ohio welcoming a beautiful new baby with Down syndrome will know they can turn to GiGi’s Playhouse for free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs!
Last month, the Ohio Department of Health added GiGi’s Playhouse to the Down Syndrome Fact Sheet for new and expecting parents. Since 2014, this fact sheet has been provided to every family in Ohio who receives a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
Lizz Maxwell, Executive Director of GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland, and Megan Vance, Site Director of GiGi’s Playhouse Canton, led the initiative to add GiGi’s to the fact sheet with unwavering dedication and strategic vision. From Lizz’s impactful meetings at the state capitol to her tireless follow-up with key representatives from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and the Ohio Department of Health, their efforts have been instrumental in securing a seat at the table.
The fact sheet is a byproduct of House Bill 552, signed into law by the Ohio General Assembly in 2014. The bill’s goal is to ensure that soon-to-be parents who have just learned of a prenatal diagnosis receive accurate and up-to-date information about Down syndrome from physicians, certified nurse midwives, and genetic counselors.
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone from our Ohio Playhouses who played a role in advancing this important cause and ensured that families in Ohio will know that they can rely on GiGi’s Playhouse!