Posts by Sara Van Deurzen
Volunteer Spotlight – Rachel
Meet Rachel, a volunteer tutor at GiGi’s Playhouse Milwaukee. We are 99% volunteer-run and are thankful to have dedicated volunteers like Rachel guiding our participants in programming. Rachel is a second-year dental student at Marquette University School of Dentistry and the president-elect of the Special Care Dentistry Association student group. She firmly believes that the…
Read MoreLearning to Cook and Gain Independence!
Cooking, what a great life skill to learn! This summer I was able to support my 11-year-old neurotypical son as he joined a great group of teen and adult participants in GiGi Kitchen. GiGi Kitchen like other GiGi’s programs are geared for individuals with Down syndrome but are open to people with all levels of…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight – What do you like about volunteering, Haley?
Haley and is an occupational therapy student at UW-Milwaukee. She has been volunteering with GiGi’s Playhouse over the past few years at the Hoffman Estates and Milwaukee locations as the program leader for Friends, Fun, & Fitness and Teen Tastic. She states that she loves the safe, welcoming environment for individuals with Down syndrome at GiGi’s…
Read MoreMOM LIFE – TRUE CONFESSIONS
Do you ever have one of those days? The ones where you wish your child didn’t have a disability? Today was one of those days. If I could’ve taken away Down syndrome, I would have. It wasn’t a terrible day; it was just a typical day with a few challenges that I wish didn’t exist.…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight – Becky!
Have a few hours that you want to spend volunteering? Make a difference in the lives of others and make friends while you’re here! Becky first volunteered at GiGi’s Playhouse Milwaukee in 2017. She has taught cooking classes with both Fantastic Friends and Teen Tastic. She is super excited to cook with friends for GiGi’s…
Read MoreLifeline in a time of COVID
At Home programs support people of all ages with Down syndrome and peers during this difficult time of separation. Through purposeful programs designed to support the individual needs of each participant, our community is thriving! Check our calendar for program dates. https://gigisplayhouse.org/milwaukee/calendar/ GiGi’s virtual At Home programming has been a lifeline for Jake, age 13,…
Read MoreThe History of GiGi’s Playhouse
Did you know how GiGi’s Playhouse began? My 6-year-old son, Franco, created our first logo! We started as a Down Syndrome Awareness Center and our tagline was Educate Inspire Achieve. Though, whenever I spoke about the Playhouses I always added the word Believe to our tag line too! As time went on it felt as…
Read MoreProgram Highlight – Meet our Teens!
Teen Tastic is a great social program just for our teens with disabilities. Teen Tastic focuses on building social skills with friends with and without Down syndrome by participating in team-based activities in a casual and fun setting. Skill development includes understanding compromise, turn-taking and problem-solving abilities. Teen Tastic has had a great online turnout.…
Read MorePulling For Down syndrome!
Wisconsin Arm Sports Thanks so much to WI Arm Sports for your support, training, and especially for extending the invitation to include our friends in the State Arm Wrestling Tournament. We are so grateful for your kindness and for inspiring us all to try our best, we are all #strongertogether! Thank you especially to Lee and…
Read MoreProgram Highlight – Our Virtual Book Club is Rocking the Internet!
Book Club takes our literacy program as well as our teens and adults to the next level. They work on comprehension, visualization, vocabulary, character development, sequencing and so much more! Book Club online is going fantastically. Everyone has been so engaged, participating, and responding to questions. Every single participant is demonstrating their Best of All,…
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