FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 20, 2024 (Portland, OR) — GiGi’s Playhouse, the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest Playhouse in Portland, OR, on Saturday, September 28. The Portland Playhouse marks GiGi’s first brick-and-mortar location in Oregon and the organization’s 61st Playhouse. The journey to…
Read MoreIn life, nothing happens overnight. Before a significant achievement, milestone, or modicum of success can be reached, days, months, and even years of hard work and determination must be put in. Our newest Playhouse, GiGi’s Playhouse Portland is a testament to this idea. Opening on September 28, our Portland Playhouse will be welcomed into the…
Read MoreBeing a parent to a newborn is one of life’s greatest gifts. But it can also be daunting. While parents are overjoyed by the arrival of this amazing new life, they also want to know that their child will have a bright future. This concern is amplified for parents of newborns with Down syndrome, who…
Read MoreAt GiGi’s, our Playhouses are like sanctuaries. Inside our walls, we offer our participants and their families more than FREE programming – we offer love, support, and acceptance. Our 60+ Playhouses are safe havens for individuals with Down syndrome and their parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, volunteers, and the entire community. The moment anyone steps through…
Read MoreIt started as a dream. Four years ago, three months into a global pandemic, Kirsten Riddick and Cara Armstrong, two mothers of children with Down syndrome, came together. Their idea was simple: create a social group for their children with Down syndrome, ideally close to their homes in Simi Valley, CA. What followed next is…
Read MoreFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 12, 2024 (Simi Valley, CA) — It’s a ribbon cutting 21 years in the making. GiGi’s Playhouse, the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, is thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of its newest Playhouse in Simi Valley, CA, on Saturday, August 17. The Simi Valley Playhouse marks the landmark…
Read MoreIf you tuned into the Olympics on Sunday, you witnessed something that directly relates to the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse. …Yes, you read that right. Though we are Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, and we absolutely love the Special Olympics, the plight and obstacles individuals with Down syndrome face aren’t simply relegated to the Special Olympics…
Read MoreNervous glances. Long stares. Muffled laughter. When people with disabilities, especially those with Down syndrome, enter public spaces, they’re often greeted with a mixed reception. Whether it’s at a school, restaurant, or grocery store, many members of the neurotypical population aren’t used to seeing individuals with disabilities, and because of this, many people don’t…
Read MoreSupport Our children and adults With A Monthly Donation #GiGisBelieves | GiGi’s Monthly Giving Program For less than a $1 per day, less than a third of the cost of a grande latte, you can make an impact. Specific impacts of your gift may include: More individuals learning to read and write. More individuals gaining greater…
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Read More1:1 Math Tutoring for Individuals with Down Syndrome Play Video Building math skills for individuals with Down syndrome increases independence in their school, in the community, and in the workplace. The aim of this program is to help promote a positive experience of learning mathematics with a sound foundation of basic number understanding. Our program…
Read MoreAbout GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc. Locations 60 New Playhouse Inquiries 200 Program Participation Hours 220,000 Our Mission and Purpose: To change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all. Our Vision: To see a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted and embraced in their families,…
Read MoreThe Power of a Playhouse July 18, 2024 Nervous glances. Long stares. Muffled laughter. When people with disabilities, especially those with Down syndrome, enter public spaces, they’re often greeted with a mixed reception. Whether it’s at a school, restaurant, or grocery store, many members of the neurotypical population aren’t used to seeing individuals with…
Read MoreWhat does it mean to have Down syndrome? For centuries, people with Down syndrome have been alluded to in art, literature, and science. It wasn’t until the late 19th century John Langdon Down, an English physician, published an accurate description of a person with Down syndrome. It was this scholarly work, published in 1866, which…
Read MoreNewsletter Archive (all newsletters are in PDF format) Please note that we have moved to eNewsletter so this is an Archive. 2016 – Spring 2016 | Fall 2016 2015 – Summer 2015 2014 – Summer 2014 | Winter 2014 2013 – Summer 2013 | Winter 2013 2012 Newsletters JANUARY 2012 – INC | DM | QC FEBRUARY 2012 – INC | DM | MC MARCH 2012 – DM | FV | HE | INC |MC | QC APRIL 2012…
Read More1:1 Literacy Tutoring for Individuals with Down Syndrome Play Video One-On-One Literacy Tutoring The FREE GiGi’s Playhouse One-on-One Literacy Tutoring Program uses a methodology with documented success based on research by professionals in the field. The ability to read opens doors for individuals with Down syndrome in the workplace, schools and the community. Developing reading skills also leads to improvements…
Read MoreWe would love to hear from you! Contact us at: GiGi’s Playhouse 2350 West Higgins Road Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 847-885-6149 Fax: 847-885-4903 Please use this form to contact a New Family Ambassador the National Office:
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