6 minute read
GiGi’s Playhouse
By Denise Humberstone (UK, mum of 3, blogger at troynize.com)
GiGi’s Playhouse, the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centres, and one we all wish was available at our doorstep: 99% volunteer-run, they provide free, life-changing, therapeutic and educational programmes from prenatal diagnosis all the way to career skills and so much more!
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Triggered by love and fuelled by passion, Nancy Gianni, CNN hero, founder and Chief Belief Officer of GiGi’s Playhouse, started the first Playhouse in 2003, a year after her third child Giuliana (The GiGi) was born with Down syndrome. Eighteen years later, GiGi’s Playhouse has grown into a $14 million nonprofit organisation and an international network with over fifty—three brick-and-mortar locations across the United States and Mexico and 200 startup enquiries in thirty-six countries! “And I’m still just getting warmed up!” says Nancy.
Their mission statement: “Changing the way the world sees Down syndrome.” Their motto: “Educate, Inspire, Believe.”
The GiGi’s extra chromosome was a big surprise, and Nancy soon realised the gaping lack of support for people like her daughter and their family. That’s when she decided to take matters into her own mighty hands and create from scratch the hub she wishes had been available to families like hers from day one. Little did Nancy know her project would keep on snowballing! The demand was real, and she committed to meet it, over and over again! The most wonderful aspect about the Playhouses is that all the high-quality, progressive, result-driven programmes they offer for individuals of all ages, their families and carers, are entirely free! Those programmes also tackle pretty much all the challenging areas that people with Down syndrome typically face, be they physical or cognitive.
From parents with a prenatal diagnosis who need answers and/or acceptance and/or celebration, or adults who need training in writing a résumé or vocational training, the Playhouses will welcome them with open arms and a big hug.
The GiGi
One-to-one math tutoring GiGiFit Class
What programmes do they offer?
• LMNOP
LMNOP – Language, Music N Our Peeps— is the bestattended therapeutic programme across the playhouse network. Interactive and engaging, LMNOP helps infants to three-year-old toddlers learn basic sign language and other forms of communication using music and language—based activities. Seated and crawling activities during LMNOP also advance gross and fine motor development growth. • Language therapy • Math tutoring • Literacy tutoring • GiGiFIT
Exercise for all with GiGiFIT created in collaboration with skilled physical therapists and designed to address common issues such as hypotonia, excessive joint laxity and decreased balance, GiGiFIT offers six programmes to suit every age group, from babies to adults. • GiGi U
I would like to say this is probably my favourite, but in all honesty, they’re all my favourites! GiGi University offers multi-pronged, goal-oriented programmes to adults to grow their confidence and prepare them for work readiness through their mantra: Confident U, Healthy U, Whole U. How? One way is to teach them about nutrition through cooking healthy meals. Another is to learn office and career skills. And finally, walk the talk through their Hugs and
Mugs retail cafe, where they apply all of the above!
Genius! • GiGi’s at Home or The unexpected silver lining of the pandemic You’ve guessed it – not even Covid-19 could slow Nancy down! Within ten days of all the centres closing in March 2020, brutally and indefinitely denying their service-users all their crucial weekly programmes, Nancy and her team put in place GiGi’s at Home, providing all usual 4,400 hours per week of therapeutic and educational programmes virtually!
A real tour de force further enabling GiGi’s Playhouse to serve families in more than forty-five countries!
Hugs and Mugs retail café
• How to get the mainstream population on board? Nancy is well aware that in order to fulfil their mission statement, “Changing the way the world sees Down syndrome”, she needs to reach the mainstream audience as well. The success of
GiGi’s Playhouse has provided a great platform and springboard to launch another two projects:
• The #generationG social media movement Its goal is to create a ripple effect by getting one million people to publicly promise to be accepting, generous and kind. All you have to do, for example, is sit with a new friend at lunch, volunteer, smile and say hi to someone new, or whatever, and then draw a heart on the palm of your hand and tag #generationG on social media. • GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge A yearly challenge in an effort to make the world a more accepting place for individuals of all abilities. This year on June 5, GiGi’s Playhouse is aiming to unite 1 million supporters in a physical and social MOVEment for Acceptance! You just have to move, post and tag #GFAC #moveforacceptance!
• Microsoft Information Services and Technology (MIT) Last year Nancy met with Microsoft executives at GiGi’s Playhouse for an eight-hour planning session on how artificial intelligence and machine learning can help individuals with Down syndrome. MIT has joined forces with GiGi’s to develop software that will help families with a child who has Down syndrome live healthier, fuller lives. “We’re not only changing the way people with Down syndrome are viewed but how they are going to be taught!” Through technology and artificial intelligence, Nancy anticipates not only being able to help families who are fortunate enough to have a Playhouse in their community but also millions of families all around the world.
More at www.gigisplayhouse.org
Lmnop session
• A Little Something
Extra Podcast
Launched in January 2021, every episode will feature guests who have accomplished the impossible and have changed the world! Be prepared to find yourself motivated with every instalment by a wide range of guests, including A-list celebrities to everyday people! The first four episodes feature NBA player Justin Jackson and his wife
Brooke; model and advocate Amanda Booth with her son Micah; actor and advocate John McGinley (Dr Perry Cox in Scrubs) and son Max; Tom Ricketts, CEO and Chairman of The
Chicago Cubs. They have lots more lined up for upcoming episodes! Learn more at www. alittlesomethingextrapodcast.org. • Book Somehow, Nancy found the time and energy to write #GenerationG: A True Story of Miracles,
Hope, and Unconditional Acceptance, an inspiring, educating and moving memoir. All profits from the sales of this book will go toward
GiGi’s Playhouse and furthering their mission of global acceptance for all through Generation G!
I can’t wait to see what Nancy and GiGi’s Playhouse come up with next, and I have never felt more confident in writing those words at the end of an article: watch that space!
