Empowering Communication: Kayla’s Internship Experience at GiGi’s Playhouse

This summer, we were thrilled to welcome Kayla, a speech-language pathology intern, to GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester. During her time with us, Kayla worked with participants of all ages and gained hands-on experience in supporting communication in meaningful, empowering ways. She brought incredible dedication and compassion to her sessions, and her reflections beautifully capture the impact of her internship. Read on as Kayla shares her experience in her own words.

“From the moment I walked through the doors at GiGi’s Playhouse, I knew that it would be more than a space for learning, it’s also a community that empowers individuals with Down syndrome and their families to bond, communicate, and connect.

Working with both children and adults here has given me a deeper understanding of what it truly means to support communication, not just as a clinical skill, but as a way to build confidence and individuality. This summer, I’ve worked with children who us augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, children who are working on understanding “wh” questions, individuals who are working on making their speech sound more clear, and adults that are moving on to work in the community.

AAC has played a central role in many of my sessions. Using AAC devices for these participants has become a bridge to language, confidence, and autonomy. I’ve learned to listen closely, to wait patiently, to honor every attempt at communication, and how to model language on these devices. With adult participants, I worked on developing conversational turn-taking, speech clarity, problem solving and how to navigate social scenarios.

At GiGi’s, therapy is not only about reaching communication goals, it’s also about celebrating strengths, building community, and empowering individuals to express themselves fully, however that may look. Watching Kristin and the rest of the staff here at GiGi’s lead with such purpose and compassion has been one of the most valuable parts of my experience.

As my internship comes to a close, I’m walking away with more than I ever imagined, I’ve gained clinical skills but more importantly, I’ve learned empathy, flexibility, creativity, and the importance of truly listening. My time at GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester has deepened my passion for inclusive, client-centered care, and strengthened my commitment to making communication accessible for everyone!”

We are so grateful to Kayla for spending her summer with us at GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester. Her compassion, creativity, and commitment to supporting every individual’s voice has made a lasting impact on our participants, families, and team. Interns like Kayla remind us of the power of community and the importance of fostering the next generation of speech-language pathologists who lead with both skill and heart. Thank you, Kayla, for all you’ve given to GiGi’s. We can’t wait to see the amazing difference you will continue to make in this world of communication.