World Down Syndrome Day feels good this year
Written by Sarah Koehn This year, World Down Syndrome Day feels more meaningful for me personally, as Daphne’s Mom, and I’m not sure why. I’m using this blog post to ponder that question. Maybe it’s because this past year has witnessed such tremendous growth in her, and several of the...
“Holden is the most incredible gift, we didn’t know to ask for.”
Written by Jaclyn Skalnik "Holden is the most incredible gift, we didn't know to ask for." This is a phrase that I am reminded of daily, even when we have hard days. Within the Down syndrome community, there are ranges of emotions that a parent can cycle through on a...
IF PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME RULED THE WORLD
Written by Dennis McGuire, PhD Scrolling through Facebook, we noticed that the National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) shared an AWESOME article we could not wait to share with you all! Enjoy! Affection, hugging and caring for others would make a big comeback. Despite the fact that my family was...
“Find heart, mama love me”
This post was written by Gina Alternburg, mother to Gracyn and Gage. Thank you so much for sharing your special story with us! There were two things I always knew I wanted to be when I grew up. One was to be a special education teacher and the other was...
FINDING THE BEAUTY WITHIN LIFE’S CHALLENGES
Written by Jen Sexton MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014 This blog post was written by one of our families whose little 'peanut' as they call her, is now two years old. Thank you for sharing the story of your prenatal diagnosis with us! I’ve always imagined myself having children. Sure, there was...
Spreading the word on world down syndrome day!
1. Showing videos that demonstrate that people with Down syndrome are "More Alike Than Different". Such as #11 on this webpage: https://www.babble.com/babble-voices/world-down-syndrome-day-21-ways-to-celebrate/ scroll to #11. 2. Sharing 21 facts about Down syndrome 3. Read an age-appropriate book about Down syndrome in the classroom, ask kids to share experiences they might have with...
preparing for an iep meeting
It is important to always keep an open line of communication with your child’s IEP team, especially in the weeks leading up to your meeting. Be sure to touch base with your child’s teacher and each therapist to discuss areas of strength, concern, progress on goals, and their thoughts for...
Six Tips to help learners with Down Syndrome be their best of all
Children with Down syndrome are capable learners who are excited and eager to learn. They just need to be given the opportunity to excel. They may learn at a slower pace, but are more than capable of learning. They are strong visual learners. This means that they understand what they...
Wisconsin Stories
By Michaela Wagner Wisconsin is home to many wonderful things such as Summerfest, cheese, brats and the great outdoors. Wisconsin is also home to two GiGi's Playhouses, the Madison location and the Milwaukee location. Here at Milwaukee we LOVE to share up lifting news and heartfelt stories with you, our readers. Sticking...
october 1 begins down syndrome “awareness” month but awareness is not nearly enough.
By: GiGi's Playhouse INC Awareness is simply acknowledging an existence, a challenge, etc. Human beings are so more than an existence or a challenge. Acceptance is an ACTION and a commitment to extend consistent value, approval, and empowerment. I’m very fortunate to work at GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers and...
Ten Questions You Always Wanted to Ask a Person with Down Syndrome
By Johannes Musial Jonas is 22 now and lives with his parents in the town of Rangsdorf, just outside Berlin. He used to want to be James Bond or a paleontologist, but after doing an internship at Berlin's RambaZamba theater, he grew passionate about acting. Since then, he's appeared in...