Teen Tastic’s River Adventure
Teen Tastic paddles out onto the river. A warm summer evening, calm water, and plenty of smiles—that was the scene when Teen Tastic headed to Cook Family Park for a day on the Tualatin River with Adventures Without Limits (AWL). AWL, a nonprofit dedicated to making the outdoors accessible for...
Family Speaker Recap: Helping Individuals with Down Syndrome Communicate Better
with Radha Joy, SLP Radha and her son. At our latest Family Speaker event, we welcomed speech-language pathologist (SLP) and GiGi’s volunteer Radha Joy, who shared her expertise in supporting communication for individuals with Down syndrome. As both a seasoned professional and a parent of a teen with Down syndrome,...
Recap in Photos: Portland’s GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge!
If you were there, you know that words won't do it justice. Check out the video recap on Instagram, too!
Family Speaker Recap: Understanding Your Child’s IEP with April Nordmeier, Learning Specialist
As the new school year approaches, learning specialist, mother, and advocate April Nordmeier shared practical guidance to help families navigate the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and get ready for a smooth start. Her main advice: read carefully, ask questions, and trust your instincts. What Is an IEP? An IEP...
Family Speaker Recap: Supporting Picky Eaters with Responsive Feeding Strategies with Cassie Bingen, SLP
Speech-language pathologist Cassie Bingen from Parkwood Clinic recently spoke at GiGi’s Playhouse Portland on strategies for families navigating Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD). Her presentation offered a clear and practical overview of the condition, and how to support children in becoming more confident, joyful eaters. What is Pediatric Feeding Disorder? PFD...
Best of All: Marvelous Meara!
Meara is turning 14, has Down syndrome, and finished the 5k run with Team Marvelous Meara at the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge on June 14th, 2025! Her mom, Calyn, gave us a heartwarming account of Meara's accomplishment: "I wanted to say THANK YOU for all the work that went into planning...
Family Speaker Recap: Building Strong Oral Foundations for Every Child with Tricia Rogers, MS-CCC, SLP
On June 19, 2025, families and professionals gathered at GiGi’s Playhouse Portland to hear from Tricia H. Rogers, a speech-language pathologist with 20+ years of experience and a deep focus on Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs). Her session, titled “Nurturing Little Mouths: Building Strong Oral Foundations for Every Child,” gave insight...
Spotlight: One-on-one Literacy Tutoring
Theo and Norah practicing letter sounds. This spring, GiGi’s Playhouse Portland conducted its one-on-one Literacy tutoring pilot with a small selection of students and volunteer tutors. Now, we are excited to invite both students and volunteers to join our Summer Literacy session! Why Volunteer as a Tutor? You’ll make a...
Why ChatGPT is a Game Changer for Students with Disabilities: Guest Post by Radha Joy
By Radha Joy, Speech-Language Pathologist Radha's son, Zach, at GiGi's Playhouse Portland. Attention, friends in education, caregiving, and beyond: if you've ever felt like your child or student is stuck in a system that doesn't know how to meet them where they are, this one's for you. Let’s start with...
Oregon’s Accessible Adventures Offer Outdoor Fun for All: Guest Post by Melissa Hart
Mark, Melissa's brother with Down syndrome, hits the walking trail. Years ago, my husband and I thought it would be fun to take my younger brother Mark—who has Down syndrome—snowshoeing up at Gold Lake Sno-Park 90 minutes from my home in Eugene. He loved bundling up and getting out...
Spotlight: Our Friend Theo
Theo gets comfy in the sensory play area. Since GiGi’s Playhouse Portland opened its doors in Fall 2024, a very bright light has been shining in our space—Theo! Full of energy, creativity, and smiles, Theo brings joy to every program he attends. Theo practices the "D" sound. Theo performs on...
Spring Clean: Declutter for a Cause
Hannah dusts the windowsills at GiGi's Playhouse Portland. 🌸 Spring is here, and it’s time to shake off the dust, clear out the clutter, and refresh our spaces—while making a difference! At GiGi’s Playhouse Portland, we’re kicking off our Spring Clean campaign, encouraging everyone to tidy up with purpose. https://youtube.com/shorts/_0Uw_2L3cYo?feature=share...