{"id":142614,"date":"2026-01-27T09:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/?p=142614"},"modified":"2026-01-28T09:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:29:13","slug":"words-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/community\/words-matter","title":{"rendered":"Words Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We believe words matter in more ways than one. Some words can feel heavy, weighing on your mind and heart, while others can lift you up and brighten your entire day. Recently, we asked our social media followers to share one word that describes GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Quad Cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what we heard:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/files\/2026\/01\/Quad-Cities-Social-.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/files\/2026\/01\/Quad-Cities-Social--1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Words matter! What's your word?\" class=\"wp-image-142615\" style=\"width:314px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/files\/2026\/01\/Quad-Cities-Social--1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/files\/2026\/01\/Quad-Cities-Social--300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/files\/2026\/01\/Quad-Cities-Social--150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/files\/2026\/01\/Quad-Cities-Social--768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/files\/2026\/01\/Quad-Cities-Social-.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Family<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friends<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouraging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support\/Supportive<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouragement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compassionate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Welcome<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amazing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wonderful<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haven<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blessing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Belonging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Achievement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a recent tour given by our Executive Director, he heard the word \u201cmagical\u201d several times. In a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/3CPAW3f5sXQ?si=LIWNwnEZHo8ZA4Po\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video<\/a> created by Augustana College students, one of our key volunteers used the words \u201cwarm, enjoyable, and community-orientated.\u201d These are all words describing our playhouse and what one person might experience when they visit or interact with our staff, volunteers, and families. We\u2019d love to hear from you! Share your word with one of our staff members!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for using words to describe our GiGi\u2019s friends and participants. We are strong advocates for removing the R-word from everyone\u2019s vocabulary. It is hurtful and has long been used as a derogatory term, especially toward individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities. Sadly, according to a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/26\/us\/r-word-slur-disability.html?searchResultPosition=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Times article<\/a>, this word has recently regained popularity. We believe that words matter, and the language we choose should reflect dignity, respect, and inclusion. Instead, here are some words we can use to describe individuals for who they truly are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Talented<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loving<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determined<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friendly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kind<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unique<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resilient<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard-working<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outside of GiGi\u2019s and our participants, the way we choose our words, especially positive, reaffirming ones, can change how we view life in general. When we focus on negative words, it\u2019s easy for our perspective to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just for one day, try using only positive words and thoughts, and notice how you feel at the end of the day. We know life isn\u2019t always positive, but even in difficult moments, there\u2019s often something good to be found within each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We believe words matter in more ways than one. Some words can feel heavy, weighing on your mind and heart, while others can lift you up and brighten your entire day. Recently, we asked our social media followers to share one word that describes GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Quad Cities. Here\u2019s what we heard: During a recent&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":120,"featured_media":142615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2190],"tags":[103,17],"class_list":["post-142614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-gigis-blog","tag-gigisblog","tag-down-syndrome"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/120"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/quadcities\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}