Spotlight: Our Work Skills Partner Albertina Kerr 

At GiGi’s Playhouse Portland, we believe that work builds confidence, independence, and a sense of purpose. In collaboration with Albertina Kerr, our site has been a place for individuals with Down syndrome to develop job readiness skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment.  

Albertina Kerr, founded in 1907, empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental health challenges to lead self-determined lives in their communities. They provide crisis psychiatric care for youth, 24-hour residential group homes for both adults and youth with I/DD, employment services, and day programs.  

This interview spotlights Hannah and Litsa, who practice work skills together for four hours every week here at our site. 

Hannah: 

What do you love about working? 

I love to work here, cleaning up. I work in the morning. I clean the tables, the toys, and I do a lot of things. Mr. Moose is nice. 

What is hard about working? 

It’s not hard to be at work.  The vacuum cord was hard. I don’t get mad; I feel happy here. 

What kind of job would you like to have someday? 

I want to do doggie daycare. Maybe work at my old high school. 

What would you tell someone who wants to start practicing their work skills but is scared? 

Don’t be scared! I’m not scared, and I like being here. 

Litsa: 

What do you love about working? 

What do I like about working with this community? I don’t like working—it’s watching them become more independent and confident. Seeing someone who is shy, who looks to other people for direction, and then starts to get more independent and take their own direction. Being part of that process. 

What is hard about working? 

I’m going to shift it and say challenging. Sometimes I’ll run into a roadblock with clients that they can’t see. It’s hard to see someone not know their power and help them get past it. 

As the world moves towards acceptance and inclusion, what kind of occupations do you hope to see people with disabilities thriving in? 

In all honesty, whatever their passion is. Currently, the world seems to be putting people with intellectual disabilities in jobs that neurotypical people don’t want to do, and that’s so limiting. I hope the world comes to a place where being “productive” is a smaller element of the work experience. 

What would you tell someone who wants to start practicing their work skills but is scared? 

For families that are reading this blog, I would encourage them to connect with their service coordinators and to seek a rehabilitation counselor. The kind of work that I do is called skills training, and I meet the client where they’re at. Someone who is hesitant may start with one hour a week. I hope to increase that stamina with a client and meet them where they’re at. 

GiGi’s Playhouse Portland is more than just a collection of free programs. This is a place for the Down syndrome and disability communities of Portland to gather and embody their Best of All. Thanks to Albertina Kerr for being part of our community!