About GiGi's Playhouse, Down Syndrome Awareness Centers

Location:

106 West 117th St., New York City, NY 10026, US

Mission Statement

our mission is to increase positive awareness of Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. our vision is to see a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted and embraced in their families, schools, and communities. We are the only community center in NYC designed to meet the social, educational and therepeutic needs of individuals with Down syndrome and those that love them. We offer social gatherings, lectures and educational talks, support groups, and numerous different classes ranging from literacy to ballet. We are also invested in changing outdated perceptions of individuals with Down syndrome through photographic galleries, calendars, news and media outlets - we depend volunteers to make all our programs fun and free!

Description

What started as a local Playhouse in a suburb of Chicago has turned into an international phenomenon, spreading awareness and inspiration to everyone it touches. GiGi's Playhouses are Down syndrome awareness and educational centers that provide resources, specialized teaching, and support to individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community!

GiGi's Playhouse centers evolved into educational centers with a focus on National awareness for Down syndrome. All of our programs are free to our families and are therapeutic in nature. Each of them are designed to work on specific skill development in several areas including speech and language, social development, and fine and gross motor skills. Our literacy program alone teaches thousands of kids with Down syndrome to read around the nation! The "i have a voice" campaign, a national awareness campaign, seeks to change outdated perceptions and replace those images with beautiful, thought provoking, intelligent images.