A peek inside GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse

GiGi’s Playhouse exists to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all. GiGi’s Playhouse is the ONLY international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers created to provide FREE life-changing therapeutic and educational programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.  There are now 46 GiGi’s Playhouse locations across the US and Mexico.  From prenatal diagnosis through career skills, GiGi’s makes a lifetime commitment to support and empower families while sending a global message of acceptance for all.  GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse is proud to serve families in upstate NY with the amazing support of our community!

Cost will never be a barrier to achievement at GiGi’s Playhouse! While programs are always free to our families, they are free to us. Your support is changing lives every day right here in Syracuse! 

Why does this matter? Glad you asked! Let us share some of the magic that happens on a daily basis at GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse.

Playhouse regulars and 2019 ‘i have a Voice” Gala attendees will remember Rebecca. In the past few years, her confidence has grown remarkably. This incredibly talented and smart woman first came to GiGi’s not sure she really wanted to participate, she was a little overwhelmed by all of us. BUT what Rebecca started showing us and teaching us from that very first visit is that she is not a woman who backs away from hard things. She is willing to work and push through fear. Now Rebecca is a very important part of GiGi’s Playhouse and can be found at GiGiFIT, Cooking, Fantastic Friends and volunteering at programs for younger kids. This year she told me that she wanted to learn how to speak in front of a crowd. She has seen friends take on this role and though she was nervous she once again wanted to push through fear and reach a new goal. We asked her to speak at our Board VIP Social. She wrote her speech, practiced at home and Facetimed me to practice some more! When the time came she was nervous and almost did not want to read her speech. Like the brave strong woman she is, she made her self stand up and do it and she knocked it out of the park. Everyone was proud, inspired and so happy that she conquered her fears (while reminding all of us in that room how to never let fear hold you back). Rebecca has really come out of her shell the last few months and we couldn’t be more proud to see her grow and achieve her goals.

The Principles of our GiGi’s Literacy Tutoring Program are to: 

• Teach using materials that are meaningful and relevant to the student to maximize interest. 
• Teach with a multi-sensory approach to build and confidence and reinforce learning. 
• Teach students to practice, transfer and generalize newly learned skills.  
• Teach students to comprehend and use information gained from reading to apply to their real-world experiences. 

The GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse Literacy Tutors (after training) receive tools and tips from the National Office and an amazing Literacy Coordinator right in our Playhouse! They were all told about our Tall Knee paired progression. Sara (volunteer tutor) implemented it with Amelia (amazing participant) in her very next session: “Tried this today with Amelia and it was a hit! Standing up and throwing the ball ended up working better for her to be able to see the words, but she loved being active and having a new way to match the words and pictures! 😊 “ AMAZING! We teach and support individuals with Down syndrome in the way they learn best. No cookie-cutter rules at GiGi’s!

This report from our LMNOP (Language Music N’ Our Peeps) Program makes us all smile! GiGi’s is not just for the individual, it is for the entire family and even the community!  “We had a new family come to this session. They were grandparents raising their grandson after a family tragedy and with the help of a family friend that also attended. They openly shared their story and made some connections with other parents. There was a wonderful time of sharing during playtime and after the session. I was so moved to see parents/guardians making these connections and got a feeling they felt welcomed and supported and NOT alone! I felt so blessed to be facilitating a program where these connections can be made!!”

These are just three small quick peeks into the life-changing work happening inside GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse, we can not deliver this support with our community support.  Donations, winning contests and volunteers all make this possible! Please check us out online to learn more or stop in for a visit. We really dig showing off 😉

Thank you!

Board President & proud advocate, Heather Rodriguez