Family Resources
February 14, 2025
These resources are some of our community partners and resources families have recommended over the years. This list is not inclusive and, except for the GiGi’s Playhouse Resources, are independent of GiGi’s Playhouse. Please do your own research when finding resources that are best for your family. If you have resources you would like to see added to this list, please email us at madison@gigisplayhouse.org.
GiGi’s Playhouse Resources
- On demand programs available anytime of day
- Live virtual programs available weekly and monthly – View in Orange on our Calendar
Generation G Page – Be Accepting, Be Generous, Be Kind
- Resources for you, family, friends and school!
Down Syndrome Community Resources
Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network
- Resource for new and expectant parents
DSAW – South Central Wisconsin
- A chapter of the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, serving Sauk, Columbia, Iowa, Dane, Jefferson, Lafayette, Green, and Rock Counties.
Therapy Resources
- Therapeutic Horsemanship located in Oregon, WI
- Funding available through CLTS Waiver and IRIS
Aspire Therapy & Developmental Services
- Located in Verona and East Madison (by the airport)
- Provides Speech, Occupational, Physical and Mental Health Therapy
- Programs include AAC, Feeding, Pelvic Floor, Virtual Visits and Summer Programs
CI Therapies – Communication Innovations
- Located in Verona, Cottage Grove, East Middleton, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee and West Middleton/Madison
- Provides Speech, Occupational, Physical and Mental Health Therapy
- Programs include Feeding, Aquatics, DMI, and Intensive Programs as well as Virtual Visits
- The Midwest’s Premier Autism Center
- Providing the most clinically comprehensive care available for children in all stages of development, from early childhood through young adulthood.
- Counseling and Consultation Center located in Downtown and Westside of Madison
- Works with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families specializing in neurodivergent individuals, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those living with the impact of PTSD and additions as well as grief and loss
- Located in East Madison
- Provides Occupational Therapy (Speech and Physical Therapy will eventually be provided)
- Common Threads is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Our work centers on our unparalleled respect for neurodiversity. We offer individualized psychotherapy and occupational therapy services in our clinic and innovative educational opportunities in our school program. All of our programming is geared toward Autistic* and Neurodivergent individuals, including those with behavioral disorders, sensory differences, and mental health needs. Our team prides itself on creating a daily environment of acceptance and growth where students and clients flourish.
- A place where individuals can find acceptance, hope, and understanding.
- A place where families and allies can find meaningful support, guidance, and a road forward.
- A place where Autistics and other Neurodivergents can find meaningful services from people who get it.
- At Common Threads we genuinely care about your personal experience and want to help you find the path that works best for you. A path that encapsulates your goals, insights, and hopes. Common Threads providers meet you where you are and work with your strengths rather than only focusing on your needs and challenges. We want to work with you to help you find meaningful outcomes.
- We provide a caring, compassionate environment that promotes both personal and spiritual healing.
- Founded in 1993, the Samaritan Counseling Center of Southern Wisconsin is a 501 (C)(3) non profit charitable organization that appreciates donations to help serve those with mental health needs in the community.
Health Care Resources
- Advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases
- Waisman Center Day with the Experts: Down Syndrome every Spring
- Down Syndrome Hub
- Includes:
- Activities
- Studies Recruiting
- Events
- Researchers
- News
- Partners
- Additional Resources
- Includes:
Financial Planning
- Wispact offers two types of Special Needs Trusts: the Self-Funded Trust and the Third-Party Trust. These Special Needs Trusts will not be counted as an available asset, and disbursements from them will not be counted as income under the rules that apply to SSI and Medicaid.
- All Wispact trusts have been approved by the Social Security Administration (who administers SSI benefits) and the Wisconsin State Department of Health Services (who administers Medicaid benefits) as meeting the requirements for Special Needs Trusts.
- Special Needs Planning – Structuring asset transfers to avoid jeopardizing needs based government benefits and planning for long term support of a child are key areas of concern. – ChSNC
- Comprehensive Planning for a Family – We address retirement “what ifs?”, aggregate portfolio asset allocation, risk management, college funding, employee benefit maximization, and multigenerational wealth transfer. – CFP
- Business Succession Planning – We illustrate various retirement business succession plans equitably balancing active and passive family members as well as providing a non-auditable business estimate* for buy-sell purposes. – CFBS
- Institutional – Charity – 401k – Foundation asset management – We can be a resource and educate on cost and labor efficient alternatives. – MBA
Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial
- Located in Monona
- Local representatives
Disability Resources
- Mission: At Morgan’s Caring Connection, our mission is to empower families with special needs dependents by providing essential grants to cover legal fees for wills, trusts, special needs trusts, powers of attorney, guardianship and other critical documents.
- Vision: We give families the peace of mind they deserve, knowing that their loved ones will be cared for, even when they are no longer able to do so.
- Helps families navigate health care and community support and services by providing learning sessions, information and resources
- Presentation on Navigating Resources for 0-14 year olds.
- Supports and advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families
- An organization that is focused on the siblings of those with a disability
- Provides youth and adult workshops, summer programs, presentations and more
- Provides life-enriching respite (relief) for families that have a child with a special ability
- Funding available through CLTS Waiver
Education
- A program for individuals with disabilities post-high school that incorporates technology, group training and community job exploration to increase the employment outcomes and independent living skills
- Post-secondary school designed to meet the unique learning needs of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Edgewood College: Cutting Edge Program
- Cutting Edge® Program provides you with an inclusive college experience, tailored to your needs as a student with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Grief Resources
Community Resources
- Located in East Madison
- An indoor play space that provides a nurturing and inclusive space where individuals of all abilities can find peace, joy, and empowerment through sensory experiences
- Inclusive baseball
- Located in Cottage Grove
ADAPTIVE BIKE RESOURCE
We partnered with Madison Adaptive Cycling and DSAW-SC to host a learn to bike program. You can find a great resource on how to secure an adaptive bike HERE and see some of the fun had HERE.
PET OWNERSHIP
Down for Pets offers grants for people with Down syndrome to adopt an animal from selter, rescue or foster program. To learn more and apply visit: https://www.petscreening.com/downforpets
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