Up-syndrome news from the international political scene!

Spain’s Down Syndrome councillor makes history | Valet 2014   Spain’s first-ever town councillor with Down Syndrome is set to start work in the Spanish city of Valladolid on Monday, but many people with her condition in Spain find themselves unable to vote because of a legal loophole. Thirty-year old...

Think College – Playhouse will host discussing this fall on the Building Blocks for Success

Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, August 21, 2014: Eight students with cognitive disabilities had the chance Thursday afternoon to do something few of their peers get to do: move into a college dorm. That's because Concordia University Wisconsin, in partnership with Bethesda College of Applied Learning, will be housing the students through a...

Educational inclusion boosts language skills

Children with disabilities benefit from classroom inclusion Language skills improve when preschoolers with disabilities are included in classes with typical peers COLUMBUS, Ohio – The secret to boosting the language skills of preschoolers with disabilities may be to put them in classrooms with typically developing peers, a new study finds....
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MEASURING THE IMPACT

The Down syndrome community of New York City did something that has never been done before.  A minuscule fraction of the 4 to 5 thousand families touched by Down syndrome estimated to live in the metropolitan area, shared their experiences of loving someone with Down syndrome on Playhouse supported web pages. Thirty-five families posted their stories...

Enormous Capacity for Good

When I was a young boy, I’d often attend novenas (prayer service) with my mother, with a selfish motive deep in my heart:   As one of ten children, at least for that short time I had Mom all to myself. On one particular evening the visiting priest was a missionary. ...

A Company of Friends at GiGi’s Playhouse

A Company of Friends is a theatre group for Adults with Special Needs in Liverpool, England.  It began as a group of friends that wanted to spend more time together and had similar goals and similar senses of humor.  Now, the Company of Friends has over 15 members that travel...
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Dancing for Down syndrome

I'm the mother of a child with Down syndrome.  I remember the days when I  thought that meant my life was pretty much over.  I imagined long days of pity and ostracism.  What I've discovered is a beautiful child, a  welcoming community, and a compelling sense of purpose. This was the gift of GiGi's...

Teens and Young Adults at GiGi’s Playhouse!

plai ensemble theatre, guest artists in residence at GiGi's Playhouse NYC, are making waves with the coolest new Playhouse participants - teens and young adults we meet weekly to create and share the magic of theatre in a public performance scheduled for our local, Harlem library.      Here is...

Sky’s the limit!

When you GOT DREAMS, the Sky's the limit.  About 100 super stars showed up at our 3rd annual World Down Syndrome Day Party on March 21st 2014.  Miss New York, the talented, dynamic and lovely Miss. Amanda Mason was the master of dreams.             She introduced the...

Your Voice/Documentary Film/Far From The Tree/Andrew Solomon

Please join us for an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a film version of Andrew Solomon's bestseller, Far From the Tree. Sunday April 27, 2;3:30 Ark Media, a Brooklyn-based documentary film company, is currently working on a film adaption of the groundbreaking bestseller Far from the Tree,...

Think Greater Potential

It is so nice to be sitting here at the kitchen table, relaxed, quiet - a stark contrast to how I spent the day at City College of New York.  I was privileged once again to represent the interests of GiGi’s Playhouse-NYC, our local Down syndrome awareness, activity and educational...
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a distinctive life

Gina was always smiling.  She had a lilt in her voice that made it seem like she was singing.  I would always direct her to simply say, 'goodbye' when she left messages for families, but she would invariably add, 'have an amazing day!' at the end of each call she...