Tuesday, June 21, 2016

GiGi'S PLAYHOUSE a JEWEL in MIDTOWN (3/15/15)

     Tucked-away in a professional corner of Midtown off Amsterdam Walk is a wonderful place for children who have been diagnosed with T21/Trisomy 21/Down syndrome.

      Gigi's Playhouse™ is best called 'an achievement center', although its biggest draw is hope.

     At the playhouse, families meet, getting to explore their common challenges with Down syndrome.  There are more than 25 programs (all of them free) which help kids increase their motor, social, and problem-solving skills. 

     Down syndrome is not as rare as you might think.  In fact, 1 in every 700 babies born will have it; some 6,000 annually.  It's estimated that there are 350,000 with Down syndrome in the United States.
     A person affected by Down syndrome has the ability to learn, but most kids are 'mainstreamed' into regular schools.  That's where Gigi's Playhouse™ fills-in the blanks.  
 
    Programs offered include simple crawling/wiggling/walking exercises all the way to math tutorials.  Guests are invited for select speaker series that focus on the family of Down Syndrome children.
     There is also a program for adults who have just received a pre-natal diagnosis of Down Syndrome in their pregnancies.  Information and resources are offered to give hope and confidence to all individuals.

     Having a resource like Gigi's Playhouse™ is very important for the Atlanta community.   The Atlanta Botanical Gardens will host 'I Have a Voice' June 6, 2015 at 6:30pm.  This is an annual fundraiser for the organization, which is a non-profit.  

     ---Ray Macon

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