We\u2019re thrilled to welcome Benjamin to GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Wausau as part of a temporary work placement through the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). DVR is a state agency that helps individuals with disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain employment. Through this partnership, we\u2019re not only gaining a passionate team member, but also supporting meaningful inclusion and empowerment in our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benjamin brings a wealth of experience, advocacy, and heart to our Playhouse. His journey is one of leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to disability rights. As a former youth representative on Wisconsin\u2019s State Disability Committee and a participant on the State Supreme Court Disability Committee, Benjamin has long been a voice for change. He\u2019s even run for public office in both his township and Marathon County, demonstrating his dedication to civic engagement and community betterment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What makes Benjamin truly stand out is his unwavering belief in the power of education and self-advocacy. He is a strong proponent of ensuring that both parents and individuals with disabilities fully understand their rights under Wisconsin law. Whether it\u2019s navigating educational services, accessing physical programs, or advocating for higher learning opportunities, Benjamin is passionate about helping others avoid exploitation and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI often get asked if children with disabilities can go to college,\u201d Benjamin shares. \u201cMy answer is always yes. It\u2019s not about if\u2014it\u2019s about how much effort you\u2019re willing to put in to achieve that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At GiGi\u2019s Playhouse, Benjamin hopes to use his time to share valuable information with families and individuals in our community. His goal is to empower others with knowledge, so they can make informed decisions and advocate for themselves and their loved ones. He\u2019s especially focused on helping parents understand the full potential of their children and the legal protections available to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Benjamin isn\u2019t all business\u2014he\u2019s also got a wonderfully nerdy side! If you catch him on a break, don\u2019t be surprised if the conversation turns to classic sci-fi. He\u2019s a huge fan of the original Star Trek<\/em>, George Lucas\u2019s Star Wars<\/em>, and cult classics like Starship Troopers<\/em>. Just don\u2019t bring up Disney\u2019s Star Wars<\/em> or modern Trek<\/em> unless you\u2019re ready for a spirited debate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, Benjamin dreams of one day becoming a director of a nonprofit organization, where he can continue advocating for a higher standard of living for people with disabilities. He envisions a future where discrimination is minimized, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI want to help build a better future for the next generation,\u201d he says. \u201cOne where people with disabilities are seen, heard, and supported in every aspect of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re honored to have Benjamin as part of our team, even if just for a short time. His insight, energy, and dedication are already making a difference, and we can\u2019t wait to see the impact he\u2019ll have during his time with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure to say hello when you see him around the Playhouse! Benjamin will be here on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and he\u2019s always happy to chat\u2014especially if you\u2019re a fellow sci-fi fan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts from Benjamin, where he\u2019ll be sharing tips, resources, and stories to inspire and inform our community. We\u2019re so excited for what\u2019s to come!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019re thrilled to welcome Benjamin to GiGi\u2019s Playhouse Wausau as part of a temporary work placement through the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). DVR is a state agency that helps individuals with disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain employment. Through this partnership, we\u2019re not only gaining a passionate team member, but also supporting meaningful…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":342,"featured_media":142197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[249,252,251,265,234,246],"tags":[247,20,270],"class_list":["post-142196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acceptance","category-community","category-gigis-playhouse","category-inclusion","category-programs","category-volunteering","tag-community","tag-gigis-playhouse-wausau","tag-volunteering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/342"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/wausau\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}