Posts Tagged ‘autism’
Assume EVERYONE Can- in their own way
By now, you have likely seen this viral and impactful video from NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society). We do believe our Down syndrome community should be given a chance to do whatever they choose to do instead of having others decide that for them. This video really brings that point to light. There are also…
Read MoreWhy are We Celebrating?
What is a ‘Best of All’ and why do we celebrate it? ‘Best of All’ is continual, measurable, celebrated and it never ends. It is a daily challenge to do a little better than you did the day before and it’s always celebrated. Possible manifestations: standing just one second longer, reading just one more word,…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Susan Dukin
We started this blog series for volunteer appreciation week in April, but we have so many wonderful volunteers to talk about it, that we decided to continue it through the year! Just a reminder, GiGi’s Playhouse Madison is 99% volunteer run – which means we wouldn’t be here without our volunteers. We had 309 unique…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Amanda Johnson
We started this blog series for volunteer appreciation week in April, but we have so many wonderful volunteers to talk about it, that we decided to continue it through the year! Just a reminder, GiGi’s Playhouse Madison is 99% volunteer run – which means we wouldn’t be here without our volunteers. We had 309 unique…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Jacob Donohue
Volunteer appreciation week is April 16-22, but we have so many wonderful volunteers to talk about it, that we’ll be celebrating all month! Just a reminder, GiGi’s Playhouse Madison is 99% volunteer run – which means we wouldn’t be here without our volunteers. It’s pretty incredible to think back on all of the hours people…
Read MoreProgramming with a Purpose: Down Syndrome and Autism
Our Playhouse has been lucky enough to have a dedicated group of volunteers that developed programming for individuals with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, or other sensory processing disorder. Dynamic Duals, a GiGi’s Playhouse-Madison piloted program, is a monthly program designed specifically for families and individuals with a dual diagnosis…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Susan Dukin
Dedication and Passion April is volunteer appreciation month and while we like to celebrate our incredibly dedicated volunteers every day, we are thrilled to take a moment to truly celebrate Susan! In January 2022 Susan stopped in with a donation from her family and immediately signed up to be a volunteer. She literally filled…
Read MoreSensory Blog: Self Regulation- What You Need To Know – Part 2
Self Regulation- Part 2 of 2 Guest blog written by Occupational Therapy Assistant Student, Juliana Lehman OTAS Advisement, Editing and Supervision by Deborah Bebeau EdD, OTR Quick recap of Self-Regulation, Part 1: Self-regulation reflects self-control but additionally involves emotional and social components. Be on the lookout for triggering situations. Assist children to identify emotions especially…
Read MoreSensory Blog: Self Regulation- What You Need To Know – Part 1
Self Regulation- Part 1 of a 2 part series Guest blog written by Occupational Therapy Assistant Student, Juliana Lehman OTAS Advisement, Editing and Supervision by Deborah Bebeau EdD, OTR Self-regulation – what does this mean to you? This term, and its meaning, appears quite complicated and expansive in literature. It is important to understand…
Read MoreSensory Blog- Oral Sensory Processing
Oral Sensory Processing Guest blog written by Occupational Therapy Assistant Student, Juliana Lehman OTAS Advisement, Editing and Supervision by Deborah Bebeau EdD, OTR Does your child gag, turn away from or avoid most foods? Conversely, does your child seek out chewy or crunchy substances consistently throughout the day? If you answered yes to either…
Read More