In 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 MoreAt GiGi’s, our Playhouses offer purposeful, FREE programs that change our participants’ lives. We also offer programs designed to take our participants outside of our Playhouse walls and into their communities. These programs don’t just help our participants; they help community members with no ties to Down syndrome gain exposure, interact, and build meaningful relationships…
Read MoreThank you for believing in us! Be sure to check your email for your acknowledgment Check out the latest from GiGi’s Playhouse Best of All – Celine December 13, 2022 “Celine thoroughly enjoys GiGi’s Kitchen Adult. During the COVID pandemic, GiGi’s was the bright spot in her week. In fact, at one point, she participated every…
Read MoreHAPPY HOLIDAYS Help us change the world See what we have accomplished in 2022 | Home page | Watch our Video Podcast
Read MoreHAPPY HOLIDAYS Help us change the world See what we have accomplished in 2022 | Home page | Watch our Video Podcast
Read MoreHappy Holidays! Please help us change the world Because of you, babies, children, adults, and families are receiving free therapeutic and educational programming every day at 57 GiGi’s locations across the US and Mexico. Because of you, individuals with Down syndrome are being given a voice. Because of you, there is a place for our communities to…
Read MoreChanging the world together as our Title Sponsor! YOUR INVESTMENT OF $500,000 PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS GiGi’s Playhouse is the ONLY network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers. Every day, we provide FREE, life-changing therapeutic, educational, and career training programs for 30,000+ individuals of all ages We EMPOWER families by maximizing opportunities for daily achievement. As…
Read More#myDSStory Submissions What Down Syndrome Can Teach Us Now by Katie Carper When I married nearly 20 years ago, I never dreamed I’d be parenting four kids, one with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism. I had no intention of managing what feels like a circus most days-not that I was opposed to…
Read MoreSiblings, volunteers, parents, co-workers, teachers, individuals with Down syndrome, we want to hear your story!! #MyDsStory We will be sharing the stories and moments that have shaped YOUR perspective of Down syndrome. To create a better understanding of what Down syndrome really is; we will use the voices of those closest to the diagnosis to…
Read MoreGiGi’s Kitchen
Read MoreWelcome to the GiGi’s Playhouse 1:1 Signature Programs We host 3 sessions each year: Spring, Summer, and Fall. You will need to register each session with your updated availability. These 1:1 programs are most effective when there is a collaborative effort between tutors or SLPs and families, so please share as much information as possible…
Read MoreGiGiFIT “Sweat. Chill. Repeat!” Activity Basket The summer will be hot and so will you with this cool new basket! Over $100 worth of summer workout and chill merchandise will be yours. Each basket contains: GiGiFIT Athletic Bag to keep all your gear in and look great while heading to the gym, pool, and beach…
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