January 1, 2024 • 39 mins
Alisha Fitzwater, program director for Gigi's Playhouse Lancaster, joins the show to talk about the programs they offer, how to get involved, and how this community helps people with Down syndrome and their families. SHOW NOTES:
GiGi’s Playhouse in Lancaster, PA opened on January 11, 2020, thanks to a great community of families, friends, educators, therapists and community members who worked together to make the dream a reality. We believe that by opening GiGi's Playhouse, we now have an even greater opportunity to impact more families in Lancaster and the surrounding counties.
GiGi's Playhouse is the only worldwide network of Down syndrome achievement centers; changing lives through free, results-driven programs for individuals of all ages, their families & communities. In helping individuals with Down syndrome achieve their best of all, we also advance our larger vision of global acceptance for people of all abilities. GiGi's was established 20 years ago and has 60+ locations.
Gigi's Links: Facebook page Website Instagram
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cassy (00:07):
Hi, and welcome to the south central PA mom, Fireflies and Whoopee Pie podcast, where
we discuss motherhood, local events, andeverything in between right here in south
central PA.
So sit back, grab a coffee a while, and settle
in for the show.
(00:27):
Hi, everyone.
Welcome back to another episode of Firefliesand Whoopee Pie.
Today we have Alicia Fitzwater.
She is the programs coordinator for Gigi's
Playhouse in Lancaster.
Alicia, thank you for being here.
Alisha (00:39):
Hi. Thanks so much.
I'm excited.
Cassy (00:42):
So tell us what Gigi's playhouse is for people who are not familiar.
Alisha (00:48):
Yeah. So Gigi's Playhouse is a Down syndrome achievement center, and it's a system
of them all across the US, with two in Mexico.
And I am actually from the one in Lancaster,
and we're the first and only one inPennsylvania, actually.
And yeah, we just do free, purposefulprogramming for those with down syndrome and
(01:08):
their family of all ages.
Cassy (01:11):
And how did you get involved?
Alisha (01:15):
I actually was on the startup committee, so I helped to open one here with
the startup committee in Lancaster.
And I had been a part of another nonprofit,
celebrate down syndrome first.
And a friend told me about Gigi's.
We saw YouTube videos and just wanted to bringone here to this area, to our community.
Cassy (01:39):
And you got involved with down syndrome because your niece has down syndrome, right?
Alisha (01:45):
Kind of.
I actually was involved even before she was
born, which is kind of cool.
Yeah.
My niece is eight right now, but I actuallygot involved probably, I think, about eleven
years ago with the other nonprofit, and thefirst thing I ever did was throw a Christmas
party for families that had a child with downsyndrome.
(02:05):
That was before I ever knew she was going tobe born, so it was cool to get involved.
And then she surprised us.
Yeah.
Cassy (02:14):
What got you interested in working with people with down syndrome to begin with?
Alisha (02:19):
Yeah. So I started going to school for nursing, and once I got a job in nursing, I
realized that I didn't like blood or needles.
It wasn't for me.
So I ended up at church.
They had a buddy ministry that I saw a video
about where you could pair up with a childwith special needs and be their buddy during
(02:43):
church.
So I started doing that.
I met a little boy that had a dual diagnosisof down syndrome and autism, and I just kind
of fell in love with him and his family andended up changing my major in school, going to
Millersville for early childhood and specialed. And then one of the moms came in to talk
(03:07):
about just her experience having a child withdown syndrome.
And she really spoke to me and her story andshe asked if anybody wanted to volunteer and
help, and that's how I got involved.
Cassy (03:20):
And then that's so crazy that you ended up having a niece with down syndrome after all
of that.
Alisha (03:27):
Yeah, exactly right.
And she's amazing.
Cassy (03:31):
Was she diagnosed at birth or was it prenatally?
Alisha (03:34):
It was prenatal, yeah.
Cassy (03:37):
How was the news for your family?
Alisha (03:42):
For the family? I'd say it was tough because they weren't as
involved as we were.
So I was kind of excited just because I love
people with down syndrome, but it was toughbecause they had never really had experience
with anyone with special needs.
It was kind of what I did, but not what they
(04:03):
did.
So I had to kind of just help get them
involved and help them meet people, and thenit became a little easier.
Cassy (04:12):
Yeah. I can definitely sympathize with that because, as listeners may or may not
know, my son has down syndrome also, and Ialso got a prenatal diagnosis, and it was
terrifying.
And I realize now, in retrospect, why it's so
scary is because you're not around people withdisabilities.
(04:35):
I don't think before Wyatt, I had ever evenmet someone with down syndrome.
I didn't see them at my school.
I didn't see them around my.
Really?They're so segregated when I was growing up,
and thankfully, that is changing a lot.
Alisha (04:54):
Exactly.
Yeah.
Cassy (04:56):
So there's no opportunity for people to know, like, hey, this isn't a scary, bad
thing.
Alisha (05:03):
Yeah. Your story is very similar to ones that we hear, and that's one of the
reasons Gigi's playhouse in Lancaster and allof them really exist, is just to kind of show
the capabilities of our people with downsyndrome and just show that they can be
included and should be in all kinds of thingsjust so more people get to meet them and so
(05:24):
they don't grow up not ever knowing someone,but they can be like, oh, yeah, I know this
person with down syndrome, and they've touchedmy life in this way, or I know they can do
this so that it's not as scary like you said.
Cassy (05:39):
And what's funny is that now I'm definitely a lot like you, where I'll have a
friend or someone or whoever that they'relike, oh, a friend of mine has just gotten a
Down syndrome diagnosis.
Would you talk to them?
And I'm always like, I know you don't want tohear this right now, but I'm so.
Alisha (05:59):
Yeah, the first thing we try to say at Gigi's is congratulations, just because a lot
of other people don't know exactly what tosay.
So we try to just tell them we're excited thatyou're going to be part of our family here and
we'll be here to support you when you'reready.
Cassy (06:14):
Well, and regardless of when you get your diagnosis, whether it's prenatally or at
birth, and this is something that is a hugeproblem just across the board, you don't hear
congratulations.
You hear, I'm sorry.
That sets this negative mindset right from thebeginning when what they should be hearing is
(06:36):
exactly what you're saying is congratulations.
We're so happy that you're here.
Alisha (06:43):
Yes. That's something common we hear as well.
It's still happening, unfortunately, that thebirth diagnosis are still delivered that way.
So that's one thing we want to get into morein this coming year is into doctors offices
and hospitals just to kind of maybe give somedifferent wording that they could share.
(07:05):
Or we do have resources in the hospitals thatnew moms can get a bag with some support in it
and contact information when they're ready toreach out.
Cassy (07:17):
And I can say for me personally, we went to our first Gigi's event where we met
you.
Alisha (07:26):
Yes.
Cassy (07:27):
It was pancakes and pajamas.
Right.
And you had Santa there and the Grinch.
And it was just so overwhelming.
And I mean that in the best way.
And the reason I say overwhelming was because
it was one of the first times that I was therewith my family and I didn't feel like we were
(07:50):
alone.
Alisha (07:51):
Yes.
Cassy (07:55):
There's so often where I will go places like we'll go to a little festival or we go
out to the movies or, you know, see other kidslike Wyatt's age with down syndrome or people
with down syndrome.
It's very rare.
And so then we go to this event at Gigi's andit's like, here's this community with tons of
people just like Wyatt.
(08:16):
And it was just so, just emotionally
overwhelming in the best way.
It was just great feeling.
And that's why I think it's really importantthat there are programs like Gigi's available
for people that have family members withspecial needs.
Alisha (08:36):
Yeah. So something cool about that day was, like I said, I've been doing that for
about eleven years, and the Christmas partyhas gotten bigger every year.
And this Christmas there were 85 familiesthere that had a child with down syndrome.
So at one point there could have been about 85people with down syndrome in the same gym.
(09:00):
And it was really cool.
Yeah.
Like you said, just to be surrounded by, wehear parents say that they just feel accepted,
like they're not judged when they're there.
It's okay.
If their child does something different,maybe, than other children do, or if they need
to take their time to go up to the nextactivity or they need some help with it, it's
(09:22):
okay.
Nobody is judging them.
They're all there really helping them at theirown pace.
So that's what we really try to work on withour volunteers, too, is just to meet the child
where they are and just help them do whateverthey need to be successful and to praise those
little things, too, because it might be easyfor a typical child to do an activity, but our
(09:47):
kiddo at down syndrome was working so hard tocomplete that at their own pace.
So we celebrate when they do complete theobstacle course or they do get the ball
through the hole.
Those things are celebrated even though they
seem small to others.
Cassy (10:03):
Oh, yeah, for sure.
And I think that just having a community is
important for everyone.
I think that people generally can agree with
that.
For example, you see now with interracial
adoptions, it's really encouraged.
(10:24):
Like, look, if you are adopting a child that
is a different race than yours, make sure youare involving them in their community because
they need that.
People who have family members with special
needs having that community, people whounderstand who you are and what you're doing
and what your struggles are and what youraccomplishments are.
That's so important, I think, for everyone,for everyone to have that.
Alisha (10:49):
Yeah, exactly.
And getting the families together is really
cool, too, just because those other moms anddads and grandparents can just be support for
each other because they've gone through it, orthey're going through it right now, or maybe
they will go through it in the future, so theyhave people to just lean on and get resources
from or just someone to listen to andunderstand them.
Cassy (11:13):
And now Gigi's, this is not the original Gigi's playhouse, right?
Alisha (11:18):
Correct. Yeah. They actually started out in Chicago about 20 years ago.
We just had our 20th anniversary for Gigi'sPlayhouse incorporated, and it started by a
lady named Nancy Gianni.
She was a mom.
She had a young, I think she was about ninemonth old baby named Gigi who had down
(11:39):
syndrome.
And in the Chicago area, she just expressed
that there wasn't much for her.
There wasn't support or therapy or anything,
really.
So she kind of describes the one night she was
walking up to bed carrying Gigi, and she justfelt the weight of the low muscle tone.
And I know, you know what I mean?Just with the heaviness of them not supporting
(12:03):
their own weight with their muscles.
And so if you've held a baby with down
syndrome, that makes sense to you?
Cassy (12:10):
Yeah, it's not so bad when they're babies.
But just as an example, I don't know if thiseven will help anyone who's listening, but I
have a twelve year old and an eleven year old.
My eleven year old is the one that has down
syndrome.
And they weigh about the same.
They both weigh about 75 pounds.
But I can tell you that my son with down
syndrome is so much heavier.
If I pick up my son that's twelve, it's like
(12:30):
he's holding himself up.
He'll help.
If I pick him up to, if we're goofing around,I'm going to throw him on the couch.
He'll help spring up, to push up, to be, tojump and to reach someone with low muscle
tone.
They can't do those things as easily.
So it's kind of like, if you ever hear they'rereferred to as, like, floppy, it makes it a
(12:57):
lot heavier.
Alisha (12:58):
Exactly. Definitely. No. Yeah.
So she just described that, and she carried
her up the steps that night, felt the weightof the low muscle tone, and just kind of vowed
that she would do something for her daughter.
She didn't know what, but she just vowed she
would do something to change the way the worldviews down syndrome.
(13:19):
And Gigi's was born out of that.
So we were number 48 to open.
So now there's close to 60 playhouses acrossthe US and two in Mexico.
And we all do pretty much very similar things.
We have the same types of programming.
Everything's free to the families to come to.
(13:41):
Everything we do is purposeful, so there's a
meaning behind it, but we make it really fun.
And, yeah, we were just excited to open.
We've been open for almost four years.
We're going to be celebrating four years in
January now.
Cassy (13:56):
What kind of programming do you have at Gigi's?
Alisha (14:00):
Yeah, so we do all kinds of programming.
We're up to about 13 different programs thatwe offer.
One of them is our one on one literacy andmath tutoring.
So most things are done through, like, a 15week session.
So we're going to be starting a spring sessionfrom January through April.
(14:22):
And for tutoring, kiddos from three throughadult can sign up to be paired with a tutor,
and then they meet at the same day and timefor an hour and just work on literacy or math.
And it's kind of to just develop a love ofreading or a love of math and just to meet
(14:44):
them where they are.
So if they're really struggling in a certain
area, they'll work on that with them andthey'll just give them extra support.
And through a lot of manipulatives, using 3dobjects to learn math in a more concrete way,
just way that a person with down syndromewould learn better.
And for reading as well.
(15:04):
We use a lot of different materials just to
make it easier for them.
So that's one program.
We also have a Gigi's kitchen class wherewe're teaching our adults how to cook, how to
be safe in the kitchen, also incorporatingnutrition and eating a balanced diet and just
(15:27):
all those skills related measuring and knifeskills and just how to be able to help their
family in the kitchen as well, or prep theirown meals.
So that's exciting.
Cassy (15:41):
You have programs for all different ages.
It's not just for little, little kids,correct?
Alisha (15:47):
Yeah. So our earliest program is our LMNop, which stands for language, music, and
our peeps.
And that's the first one that babies and moms
can come to when they start.
And then we have everything.
We have the next age up.
We have three to five year olds.
We have a preschool program.
Then we have a destination.
(16:09):
Discovery is for our kiddos, five to twelveyear olds.
We also do fitness class, which is we have fortoddlers, for kids, for teens.
And then actually, our adult programming isactually our most attended.
We have the most adults that come.
So ages 18 through 30s.
(16:29):
We do programs during the day for them too, aswell, because some of them aren't working
every day of the week.
And so we do programming during the day where
they'll write out all of our thank you notes.
Our birthday cards that we send out from
Gigi's, they come from adults with downsyndrome.
They'll do crafts and things to be sold atlocal craft shows that we go to.
(16:54):
They'll also just do some social activities,like lots of get to know you and talking
karaoke.
We'll throw in there, too.
So, yeah, something for everybody, all ages.
Okay.
Cassy (17:10):
Yeah. And it's, like, fun stuff, too.
You have events also.
Alisha (17:16):
Yeah. So we do a lot of themes for the holidays.
So we just had an elf party where all of ourteens and adults could dress like an elf.
We watched the buddy the elf movie, and weeven ate spaghetti with syrup and chocolate
syrup on it.
And candy.
Cassy (17:34):
Oh, my goodness.
Alisha (17:36):
Yeah. We actually had an elf breakfast.
Yeah, it was fun.
So we like to do a lot of those fun things,
and we do them right alongside with them.
Because I'm an adult, they're an adult, and
I've always wanted to do that, so it's so muchfun.
Cassy (17:52):
Yeah, I think that's a good thing to point out, too, is that I think a lot of
people tend to kind of infantilize people withdown syndrome.
Like someone who is a 22 year old with downsyndrome is still an adult and they should
still be treated like it.
And there is no rule saying that adults cannot
have a fun, elf themed breakfast.
Alisha (18:13):
Exactly. Yes. We often get to that fine line of we want to make things very age
appropriate for them because we don't want ouradults treated like children.
And it's really interesting because a lot ofour adults, like we say, our 18 year olds, a
(18:36):
lot of them are coming to us because they'redone with school now and they aren't going off
to college or they're not ready to live ontheir own yet, and that's okay.
But a lot of their friends kind of move on anddo those things.
And so Gigi's kind of fills that gap and givesthem a place that they can be dropped off and
their parents can leave and they can be theirown person and they can make friends.
(19:01):
So it really is developing their independencewhen they're at Gigi's, while they're there,
we want them to do things on their own.
We're trying to teach them these life skills
that they can go do things on their own.
And a lot of them, that's where their friends
are.
So they come to be with their friends, to
socialize, to hang out, to cook with them.
(19:23):
Our fitness classes every week, they come and
work out with their friends.
And, yeah, it's a place that there's
volunteers there.
Yes, that we are overseeing it, but we're all
kind of taught to make sure they are doing iton their own and developing that independence
for them.
We don't want to do things for them because
(19:44):
they are adults.
Cassy (19:46):
Yeah, I think that, again, that's just a really important thing to remember, is that
they're adults and that also they have thesame needs as everyone else.
Alisha (19:59):
Yeah.
Cassy (20:02):
What was that video that went, that was released maybe last year or the year before,
but it was basically about people with downsyndrome saying, like, I don't have special
needs.
The needs I have are the same as everyone
else.
I need belonging and love and a community and
a purpose.
It's the same thing everyone else needs.
Alisha (20:20):
Exactly.
And, yeah, that is one thing we hear around
Gigi's is that it does give some of ouradults, even the older ones, like, we have
some in their 40s or even 50s.
It gives them something to do and to go to so
they're not just sitting at home.
It's kind of exciting.
Like, oh, I have Gigi's to go to today.
I have to get up and go see my friends, and
(20:43):
it's motivation to go do that, and it's kindof like a purpose, like they need me.
So that's really cool.
Cassy (20:53):
Now, what about if someone were to want to get involved, but they don't have a family
member with down syndrome?
Alisha (20:59):
Yes. So we love volunteers like that.
So if someone wants to come volunteer or they
want their child to be around other childrenthat have down syndrome, they can volunteer
right alongside with the children that are intheir age group.
So it's really cool.
(21:20):
We're always looking for volunteers or even to
volunteer as a family because it's really coolwhen the kids maybe are working out next to a
child with down syndrome, they can be like amodel for them and they can kind of show them
how to do the activity.
And it's really motivating is what we see is
(21:41):
when a typical peer comes alongside them andcheers them on and genuinely wants to praise
them and to do it with them.
So we're always looking for those volunteers
that want to come in.
Even if you don't have someone with down
syndrome, we'll kind of introduce you to theworld and just get you used to it.
(22:08):
Sometimes, if you might want to stand back andobserve a little bit, I say you're welcome to,
but honestly, the participants will kind ofdrag you in.
They'll notice you're new and they'll say,who's that?
What's your name?And they'll pull you in right away and get you
involved, which is really cool.
Cassy (22:26):
Yeah, that is, and I think that's great.
Just again, to kind of go back to what wetalked about before, typical peers need to be,
in my opinion, around their neurodivergentpeers.
It enriches their lives, too.
(22:47):
Not just the people that are neurodivergent,
but meeting people with different needs andbeing able to accept those differences and
even embrace them and say, this person is myfriend, even though they are not like me.
Alisha (23:01):
Yeah, we love when that happens.
It's really cool.
There's even a little boy that he had beenvolunteering at his school in a class for
those with special needs, and he knew that oneof the little kiddos went to Gigi's and he
went home and told his mom, like, hey, I wantto go there too and volunteer.
(23:23):
Him and his mom now come to Gigi's andvolunteer in our fitness class.
And it's just cool seeing the way he caninteract with the kiddos his own age and just
like his love just shows through and you cantell it's changing his life as well.
He just feels so fulfilled and he's upset whenhe can't come if he has a different event or
(23:46):
something.
It's really cool to see those interactions.
Yeah.
Cassy (23:52):
And so you have events that you guys do.
Do you have one that for you has been one ofyour favorite events that you have arranged?
Alisha (24:01):
Well, I mean, I'd have to say pancakes and pajamas, I do say is like my favorite day
of the year and that would still have to standbecause that is our biggest event of the whole
year.
The most people come to that and it's just for
me, so cool to have everybody all together andit's just such a happy Christmas and joy
(24:23):
filled day like you saw.
It's a great way to start off your holiday
season just with all that happiness and thelive music.
I would have to say that is my favorite day ofthe year for sure.
It's the most fun.
It's the most just like laid back and they can
(24:44):
really be themselves.
Cassy (24:47):
Do you have other holiday because you said you have holiday events, so what about
other times where it's not in the winter, like4 July or St. Patrick's Day or whatever it may
be.
Alisha (24:59):
Exactly.
So yeah, we like to really celebrate every
holiday at Gigi's.
So what we do is for our programs, we do
monthly programs.
So like one Saturday a month it will be our
preschoolers, and then one Saturday it's thekids, and one Saturday it's the adults.
Like that.
So whatever holiday is near it, like that
(25:21):
month will be themed.
Like that.
So yes, we will do, like a themed program forSt. Patrick's Day and everything.
They'll do little reading and math activitiesand fine motor activities that are all related
to rainbows and pots of gold so that it reallymakes it fun and festive.
We'll do an Easter egg hunt at Easter andthey'll do Easter activities and then they'll
(25:45):
go outside and hunt for eggs.
And that's been a really fun one, too, because
we hear from parents that when they take theirchildren to these big egg hunts in the
community, of course they're always welcome.
And we love that they would include our
children.
But our children often may have a slower
(26:06):
reaction time and it might take them longer toreach down and find the eggs.
And often we heard that even just they weregetting trampled on.
Yeah.
From egg to egg.
They were getting trampled on or just leftbehind.
And we're getting one egg at the egg huntwhile the other kiddos would get a whole
basket.
So we love our egg hunt at Gigi's playhouse
(26:28):
just because they can take their time, theycan take a long time.
And we put so many eggs out that we actuallyteach them how to do an egg hunt and let them
actually practice how to pick up the eggs andhow to walk and find them because those skills
are so important, but they get missed when youcan't break it down and do it slowly for them.
So that's kind of the point of what we do, isthat if they practice at ours, then maybe they
(26:53):
can go and be a little more successful atthose bigger ones.
Or it just gives an opportunity for the familyto take them to one that's more for their pace
and they still get to have a good time.
Cassy (27:04):
Yeah. And that's a good example because we've experienced that.
Bless my son's heart.
My older son, that's twelve, he is the best
big brother.
He will be the one that will sit there and
hold Wyatt's hand and walk him slowly from eggto egg.
(27:27):
But even with that help, you've got a hundredother kids that are just mad dash running all
over the.
You can't, it's not a competition, but it's
like, you can't compete with that becausethey're going to be gone by the time you get
to whatever eggs that are available.
You just can't keep up.
Alisha (27:48):
Yeah. So if there's anybody listening that is looking for those kind of activities,
an egg hunt that's more sensory friendly ormore at their child's pace, you're definitely
welcome to check out Gigi's.
Cassy (28:06):
Yeah. And someone who were to volunteer for those kinds of events, what kinds of
things would they be able to do?
Alisha (28:15):
Yeah. So volunteers, we usually have them come early to the events so that they can
work on prep work, setting up for the programof the day or the event of the day.
And then we also kind of just try to meetahead of time and make sure everybody's on the
same page knows what we're doing.
(28:35):
And then during the program or the event,
there's a variety of different ways you canjust help with.
Sometimes you help one on one with a childwith down syndrome or one on one with a child
that's a sibling.
Just if a parent brings a few different kids
with them.
It's sometimes helpful just to pair up like
(28:56):
that and do the activities.
Or you might just be, if it's a group
activity, just cheering for everyone and beingthere to help with the materials and the
activities and setting things up, that's kindof like our programs that we have on a regular
basis.
But there's also, like you had mentioned,
(29:17):
bigger events.
So we do a gala every year as fundraisers.
We do like a golf outing.
We do bingo.
So those are more like most of the day eventsthat volunteers could get involved with.
If they like to help plan events, there'salways, like, committees they could join to
help us actually plan the event ahead of timeand pick out the decorations and look for
(29:42):
sponsors.
So there's so many different ways to be
involved for volunteers.
So it's a good place to volunteer.
Cassy (29:51):
Yeah, it sounds like it.
And for families that do have children with
special needs, how do they get started withthe programming there?
You just show up?
Alisha (30:03):
Yeah, you can.
So if you've heard about us or seen us online
or whatever, you can just show up.
We have an online calendar on our website that
kind of shows what times things are.
And when you click on them, it'll tell you the
age group or what to expect.
There's also a way to create a mygg's login,
(30:26):
like username and password, and then RSVP forthose events so that we know you're coming and
can expect, you know, if you're even nervousto come your first time, you can always reach
out to us and we can just have you during anyopen hours to give you a tour or just to maybe
(30:46):
see the playhouse when it's not very full.
And you can kind of experience it just like
with just your family or if you want to meetjust another family or something.
But, yeah, you're always welcome to come outand try anything.
And then the ones that are like, sessionbased, kind of like if you're interested in
(31:06):
the tutoring and you want to sign up, you'dsign up for the whole 15 week session.
That's also on our website, too.
You just go on there and you can register for
the session and we'll pair you up.
Cassy (31:19):
And it's so amazing that these services, like you said, are always free for
the families.
Alisha (31:27):
Exactly. Yeah. So that is one thing as a whole that Gigi's puts out there, is that
they don't want money to be a barrier toachievement, is what we say.
So if your child has down syndrome, we wantthis to be free to your family just to bring
them, and it's not free for us to run, ofcourse.
(31:50):
So that's why we do the fundraisers throughoutthe year.
And the fundraisers are fun.
They're a way to maybe get extended family
involved or maybe your coworkers or yourfriends to kind of come out and support those
fundraisers or local businesses.
We're trying to get sponsorship from local
businesses and things like that, too, so thatit's not the families that are paying, but
(32:16):
kind of the community comes together for a funevent, and then the proceeds go towards it.
Cassy (32:22):
So how does a business get involved with Gigi's?
What can they business owner manager for abusiness, and they think, hey, I'd really like
to support this organization.
What can they do?
Alisha (32:34):
Yeah, I mean, we have a bunch of different ways for each of our events that are
coming up.
Like for the gala that's coming up in April,
we'll have different sponsorship levels.
So a business could choose to be one of our
sponsors, and they could pay a set amount, andthen they could get some complimentary tickets
(32:57):
to come to the gala.
They would get an advertisement in our
program.
We'd advertise them on the screen, on social
media, those kind of incentives just to kindof partner with those organizations to show
that they're supporting us, but then to honorthem as well, to have them see what we're
doing.
(33:17):
So at each event, we do it that way.
We also have a believe in our build campaigngoing on right now because we're actually
expanding to a new building.
So if there's any businesses that specifically
want to help with the build out of that, theycould even sponsor one of our new rooms or
areas in the new playhouse.
(33:37):
So we're definitely looking on our website.
There's opportunities there.
Or just reach out to us for email.
We can come do presentations at your businessand present what we are and why we're looking
for support.
Or you could come for a tour and we could show
you kind of in action what we're doing sodifferent ways, but we've only been around for
(33:59):
almost four years, so we still feel likethere's a lot of people that haven't heard of
us, and I'm sure there's more businesses thatmight want to get involved and support us.
Cassy (34:10):
And you said you are getting a new building.
Alisha (34:13):
Yeah. So we've been in this one for, I said going on four years, and the trend we've
seen over the last four years is like atripling effect.
So from the time we started in January of2020, we've just seen a tripling of the number
of families that come.
The number of participants, the number of free
(34:34):
program hours that we deliver has tripled aswell.
We're doing close to 500 free program hoursper month by volunteers, but our space hasn't
tripled.
So we're pretty crammed in the playhouse right
now for a lot of our programs.
They're pretty tight.
So we're actually going to a building justacross the street or not even across the
(34:59):
street.
It's just across the parking lot and it's
three times the size of our current one.
So we'll be in a 7400 square foot building.
Right now we're working on painting it,getting up the carpet, getting new carpet
down, building furniture, that kind of stuffto move in in the new year.
Cassy (35:20):
That's like three times the size.
Wow.
Alisha (35:23):
Yeah, we're excited.
Cassy (35:25):
I bet.
And will there be more that you're able to do
with the additional space?
Alisha (35:36):
Yeah, for sure.
So by opening up the new building, instead of
just one tutoring room, we're going to nowhave three tutoring rooms so that three
different kiddos can get tutored at the sametime instead of just one.
We're going to have an actual kitchen becauseright now we just have a little kitchenette
and then we put up tables and we plug in likeair fryers and stuff in our current building.
(36:01):
So the new kitchen will be a full kitchen witha stove and countertops and everything we need
to actually teach our adults how to work in areal kitchen.
Our gym.
Yeah, that sounds fun, right?
Our site coordinator is the only paid staffmember that we have and right now she just has
(36:22):
a desk right when you walk in.
So we'll be giving her like a separate office
with a door and a window that she can have herown office to get work done in there.
So that will be helpful.
Our kiddos and participants really love the
stage.
They just love going on stage and singing
(36:43):
karaoke and giving speeches and things likethat.
So we're actually going to have a separatestage in a separate room for our adults
because right now our adults are meeting attables with toys behind them and stuff, which,
like I mentioned before, we feel isn't as ageappropriate.
So we're going to give them their own spacefor our adults.
(37:07):
We call them our fantastic friends and theirrooms called like Club G. And it's going to be
set up kind of like a game room or just a funhangout space for them with just fun stuff and
no kids toys.
So they'll have their own stage in there as
well, so that they can go on there and singkaraoke, they can dance, they can give
(37:28):
speeches, and we're really excited about that.
Cassy (37:33):
Yeah, that sounds like, I think any teenager adult would want to have their own
space.
That sounds really awesome.
Alisha (37:42):
Yeah, we're excited about that.
Cassy (37:45):
Well, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today about all of.
I mean, like, you know, we are relatively newto Pa, so we came to our first Gigi's
playhouse, and it was incredible.
And we're so excited to be involved.
And I hope for everyone listening that youtake some time to learn more about Gigi's,
(38:07):
because they just make such a positive impactin the lives of our down syndrome communities
across the country.
Alisha (38:16):
Yeah. Thank you so much for having us.
And, yeah, we would love to get anyone
involved that isn't involved yet.
Cassy (38:24):
And where, if they want to find you, where can they find you?
Social media and online.
Alisha (38:30):
Yeah. So we are on social media.
For Facebook, it's Gigi's Playhouse Lancaster.
Same with instagram.
Gigi's Playhouse Lancaster.
And then our website would behouse.orgbackslash Lancaster would be ours
specifically.
And Gigi's is G-I-G-I.
(38:52):
Well, not in social media.
You don't put the apostrophe, but G-I-G-I-S
for Gigi's Playhouse.
Yeah.
Well, great.
Cassy (39:01):
Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy your holiday season.
This episode will be released after theholidays because we're taking a holiday break,
but right now we are recording.
It's not yet Christmas.
Alisha (39:12):
Yes. Thank you so much.
Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
Cassy (39:16):
All right, we will talk to you soon.
Alisha (39:18):
All right, thank you.
Cassy (39:28):
That's our episode for this week.
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Thanks for stopping by the Fireflies and
Whoopee Pie podcast, the only podcast by southcentral Pa moms or south central Pa moms.
Until next time.
Hi, and welcome to the south central PA mom, Fireflies and Whoopee Pie podcast, where
we discuss motherhood, local events, andeverything in between right here in south
central PA.
So sit back, grab a coffee a while, and settle
in for the show.
(00:27):
Hi, everyone.
Welcome back to another episode of Firefliesand Whoopee Pie.
Today we have Alicia Fitzwater.
She is the programs coordinator for Gigi's
Playhouse in Lancaster.
Alicia, thank you for being here.
Alisha (00:39):
Hi. Thanks so much.
I'm excited.
Cassy (00:42):
So tell us what Gigi's playhouse is for people who are not familiar.
Alisha (00:48):
Yeah. So Gigi's Playhouse is a Down syndrome achievement center, and it's a system
of them all across the US, with two in Mexico.
And I am actually from the one in Lancaster,
and we're the first and only one inPennsylvania, actually.
And yeah, we just do free, purposefulprogramming for those with down syndrome and
(01:08):
their family of all ages.
Cassy (01:11):
And how did you get involved?
Alisha (01:15):
I actually was on the startup committee, so I helped to open one here with
the startup committee in Lancaster.
And I had been a part of another nonprofit,
celebrate down syndrome first.
And a friend told me about Gigi's.
We saw YouTube videos and just wanted to bringone here to this area, to our community.
Cassy (01:39):
And you got involved with down syndrome because your niece has down syndrome, right?
Alisha (01:45):
Kind of.
I actually was involved even before she was
born, which is kind of cool.
Yeah.
My niece is eight right now, but I actuallygot involved probably, I think, about eleven
years ago with the other nonprofit, and thefirst thing I ever did was throw a Christmas
party for families that had a child with downsyndrome.
(02:05):
That was before I ever knew she was going tobe born, so it was cool to get involved.
And then she surprised us.
Yeah.
Cassy (02:14):
What got you interested in working with people with down syndrome to begin with?
Alisha (02:19):
Yeah. So I started going to school for nursing, and once I got a job in nursing, I
realized that I didn't like blood or needles.
It wasn't for me.
So I ended up at church.
They had a buddy ministry that I saw a video
about where you could pair up with a childwith special needs and be their buddy during
(02:43):
church.
So I started doing that.
I met a little boy that had a dual diagnosisof down syndrome and autism, and I just kind
of fell in love with him and his family andended up changing my major in school, going to
Millersville for early childhood and specialed. And then one of the moms came in to talk
(03:07):
about just her experience having a child withdown syndrome.
And she really spoke to me and her story andshe asked if anybody wanted to volunteer and
help, and that's how I got involved.
Cassy (03:20):
And then that's so crazy that you ended up having a niece with down syndrome after all
of that.
Alisha (03:27):
Yeah, exactly right.
And she's amazing.
Cassy (03:31):
Was she diagnosed at birth or was it prenatally?
Alisha (03:34):
It was prenatal, yeah.
Cassy (03:37):
How was the news for your family?
Alisha (03:42):
For the family? I'd say it was tough because they weren't as
involved as we were.
So I was kind of excited just because I love
people with down syndrome, but it was toughbecause they had never really had experience
with anyone with special needs.
It was kind of what I did, but not what they
(04:03):
did.
So I had to kind of just help get them
involved and help them meet people, and thenit became a little easier.
Cassy (04:12):
Yeah. I can definitely sympathize with that because, as listeners may or may not
know, my son has down syndrome also, and Ialso got a prenatal diagnosis, and it was
terrifying.
And I realize now, in retrospect, why it's so
scary is because you're not around people withdisabilities.
(04:35):
I don't think before Wyatt, I had ever evenmet someone with down syndrome.
I didn't see them at my school.
I didn't see them around my.
Really?They're so segregated when I was growing up,
and thankfully, that is changing a lot.
Alisha (04:54):
Exactly.
Yeah.
Cassy (04:56):
So there's no opportunity for people to know, like, hey, this isn't a scary, bad
thing.
Alisha (05:03):
Yeah. Your story is very similar to ones that we hear, and that's one of the
reasons Gigi's playhouse in Lancaster and allof them really exist, is just to kind of show
the capabilities of our people with downsyndrome and just show that they can be
included and should be in all kinds of thingsjust so more people get to meet them and so
(05:24):
they don't grow up not ever knowing someone,but they can be like, oh, yeah, I know this
person with down syndrome, and they've touchedmy life in this way, or I know they can do
this so that it's not as scary like you said.
Cassy (05:39):
And what's funny is that now I'm definitely a lot like you, where I'll have a
friend or someone or whoever that they'relike, oh, a friend of mine has just gotten a
Down syndrome diagnosis.
Would you talk to them?
And I'm always like, I know you don't want tohear this right now, but I'm so.
Alisha (05:59):
Yeah, the first thing we try to say at Gigi's is congratulations, just because a lot
of other people don't know exactly what tosay.
So we try to just tell them we're excited thatyou're going to be part of our family here and
we'll be here to support you when you'reready.
Cassy (06:14):
Well, and regardless of when you get your diagnosis, whether it's prenatally or at
birth, and this is something that is a hugeproblem just across the board, you don't hear
congratulations.
You hear, I'm sorry.
That sets this negative mindset right from thebeginning when what they should be hearing is
(06:36):
exactly what you're saying is congratulations.
We're so happy that you're here.
Alisha (06:43):
Yes. That's something common we hear as well.
It's still happening, unfortunately, that thebirth diagnosis are still delivered that way.
So that's one thing we want to get into morein this coming year is into doctors offices
and hospitals just to kind of maybe give somedifferent wording that they could share.
(07:05):
Or we do have resources in the hospitals thatnew moms can get a bag with some support in it
and contact information when they're ready toreach out.
Cassy (07:17):
And I can say for me personally, we went to our first Gigi's event where we met
you.
Alisha (07:26):
Yes.
Cassy (07:27):
It was pancakes and pajamas.
Right.
And you had Santa there and the Grinch.
And it was just so overwhelming.
And I mean that in the best way.
And the reason I say overwhelming was because
it was one of the first times that I was therewith my family and I didn't feel like we were
(07:50):
alone.
Alisha (07:51):
Yes.
Cassy (07:55):
There's so often where I will go places like we'll go to a little festival or we go
out to the movies or, you know, see other kidslike Wyatt's age with down syndrome or people
with down syndrome.
It's very rare.
And so then we go to this event at Gigi's andit's like, here's this community with tons of
people just like Wyatt.
(08:16):
And it was just so, just emotionally
overwhelming in the best way.
It was just great feeling.
And that's why I think it's really importantthat there are programs like Gigi's available
for people that have family members withspecial needs.
Alisha (08:36):
Yeah. So something cool about that day was, like I said, I've been doing that for
about eleven years, and the Christmas partyhas gotten bigger every year.
And this Christmas there were 85 familiesthere that had a child with down syndrome.
So at one point there could have been about 85people with down syndrome in the same gym.
(09:00):
And it was really cool.
Yeah.
Like you said, just to be surrounded by, wehear parents say that they just feel accepted,
like they're not judged when they're there.
It's okay.
If their child does something different,maybe, than other children do, or if they need
to take their time to go up to the nextactivity or they need some help with it, it's
(09:22):
okay.
Nobody is judging them.
They're all there really helping them at theirown pace.
So that's what we really try to work on withour volunteers, too, is just to meet the child
where they are and just help them do whateverthey need to be successful and to praise those
little things, too, because it might be easyfor a typical child to do an activity, but our
(09:47):
kiddo at down syndrome was working so hard tocomplete that at their own pace.
So we celebrate when they do complete theobstacle course or they do get the ball
through the hole.
Those things are celebrated even though they
seem small to others.
Cassy (10:03):
Oh, yeah, for sure.
And I think that just having a community is
important for everyone.
I think that people generally can agree with
that.
For example, you see now with interracial
adoptions, it's really encouraged.
(10:24):
Like, look, if you are adopting a child that
is a different race than yours, make sure youare involving them in their community because
they need that.
People who have family members with special
needs having that community, people whounderstand who you are and what you're doing
and what your struggles are and what youraccomplishments are.
That's so important, I think, for everyone,for everyone to have that.
Alisha (10:49):
Yeah, exactly.
And getting the families together is really
cool, too, just because those other moms anddads and grandparents can just be support for
each other because they've gone through it, orthey're going through it right now, or maybe
they will go through it in the future, so theyhave people to just lean on and get resources
from or just someone to listen to andunderstand them.
Cassy (11:13):
And now Gigi's, this is not the original Gigi's playhouse, right?
Alisha (11:18):
Correct. Yeah. They actually started out in Chicago about 20 years ago.
We just had our 20th anniversary for Gigi'sPlayhouse incorporated, and it started by a
lady named Nancy Gianni.
She was a mom.
She had a young, I think she was about ninemonth old baby named Gigi who had down
(11:39):
syndrome.
And in the Chicago area, she just expressed
that there wasn't much for her.
There wasn't support or therapy or anything,
really.
So she kind of describes the one night she was
walking up to bed carrying Gigi, and she justfelt the weight of the low muscle tone.
And I know, you know what I mean?Just with the heaviness of them not supporting
(12:03):
their own weight with their muscles.
And so if you've held a baby with down
syndrome, that makes sense to you?
Cassy (12:10):
Yeah, it's not so bad when they're babies.
But just as an example, I don't know if thiseven will help anyone who's listening, but I
have a twelve year old and an eleven year old.
My eleven year old is the one that has down
syndrome.
And they weigh about the same.
They both weigh about 75 pounds.
But I can tell you that my son with down
syndrome is so much heavier.
If I pick up my son that's twelve, it's like
(12:30):
he's holding himself up.
He'll help.
If I pick him up to, if we're goofing around,I'm going to throw him on the couch.
He'll help spring up, to push up, to be, tojump and to reach someone with low muscle
tone.
They can't do those things as easily.
So it's kind of like, if you ever hear they'rereferred to as, like, floppy, it makes it a
(12:57):
lot heavier.
Alisha (12:58):
Exactly. Definitely. No. Yeah.
So she just described that, and she carried
her up the steps that night, felt the weightof the low muscle tone, and just kind of vowed
that she would do something for her daughter.
She didn't know what, but she just vowed she
would do something to change the way the worldviews down syndrome.
(13:19):
And Gigi's was born out of that.
So we were number 48 to open.
So now there's close to 60 playhouses acrossthe US and two in Mexico.
And we all do pretty much very similar things.
We have the same types of programming.
Everything's free to the families to come to.
(13:41):
Everything we do is purposeful, so there's a
meaning behind it, but we make it really fun.
And, yeah, we were just excited to open.
We've been open for almost four years.
We're going to be celebrating four years in
January now.
Cassy (13:56):
What kind of programming do you have at Gigi's?
Alisha (14:00):
Yeah, so we do all kinds of programming.
We're up to about 13 different programs thatwe offer.
One of them is our one on one literacy andmath tutoring.
So most things are done through, like, a 15week session.
So we're going to be starting a spring sessionfrom January through April.
(14:22):
And for tutoring, kiddos from three throughadult can sign up to be paired with a tutor,
and then they meet at the same day and timefor an hour and just work on literacy or math.
And it's kind of to just develop a love ofreading or a love of math and just to meet
(14:44):
them where they are.
So if they're really struggling in a certain
area, they'll work on that with them andthey'll just give them extra support.
And through a lot of manipulatives, using 3dobjects to learn math in a more concrete way,
just way that a person with down syndromewould learn better.
And for reading as well.
(15:04):
We use a lot of different materials just to
make it easier for them.
So that's one program.
We also have a Gigi's kitchen class wherewe're teaching our adults how to cook, how to
be safe in the kitchen, also incorporatingnutrition and eating a balanced diet and just
(15:27):
all those skills related measuring and knifeskills and just how to be able to help their
family in the kitchen as well, or prep theirown meals.
So that's exciting.
Cassy (15:41):
You have programs for all different ages.
It's not just for little, little kids,correct?
Alisha (15:47):
Yeah. So our earliest program is our LMNop, which stands for language, music, and
our peeps.
And that's the first one that babies and moms
can come to when they start.
And then we have everything.
We have the next age up.
We have three to five year olds.
We have a preschool program.
Then we have a destination.
(16:09):
Discovery is for our kiddos, five to twelveyear olds.
We also do fitness class, which is we have fortoddlers, for kids, for teens.
And then actually, our adult programming isactually our most attended.
We have the most adults that come.
So ages 18 through 30s.
(16:29):
We do programs during the day for them too, aswell, because some of them aren't working
every day of the week.
And so we do programming during the day where
they'll write out all of our thank you notes.
Our birthday cards that we send out from
Gigi's, they come from adults with downsyndrome.
They'll do crafts and things to be sold atlocal craft shows that we go to.
(16:54):
They'll also just do some social activities,like lots of get to know you and talking
karaoke.
We'll throw in there, too.
So, yeah, something for everybody, all ages.
Okay.
Cassy (17:10):
Yeah. And it's, like, fun stuff, too.
You have events also.
Alisha (17:16):
Yeah. So we do a lot of themes for the holidays.
So we just had an elf party where all of ourteens and adults could dress like an elf.
We watched the buddy the elf movie, and weeven ate spaghetti with syrup and chocolate
syrup on it.
And candy.
Cassy (17:34):
Oh, my goodness.
Alisha (17:36):
Yeah. We actually had an elf breakfast.
Yeah, it was fun.
So we like to do a lot of those fun things,
and we do them right alongside with them.
Because I'm an adult, they're an adult, and
I've always wanted to do that, so it's so muchfun.
Cassy (17:52):
Yeah, I think that's a good thing to point out, too, is that I think a lot of
people tend to kind of infantilize people withdown syndrome.
Like someone who is a 22 year old with downsyndrome is still an adult and they should
still be treated like it.
And there is no rule saying that adults cannot
have a fun, elf themed breakfast.
Alisha (18:13):
Exactly. Yes. We often get to that fine line of we want to make things very age
appropriate for them because we don't want ouradults treated like children.
And it's really interesting because a lot ofour adults, like we say, our 18 year olds, a
(18:36):
lot of them are coming to us because they'redone with school now and they aren't going off
to college or they're not ready to live ontheir own yet, and that's okay.
But a lot of their friends kind of move on anddo those things.
And so Gigi's kind of fills that gap and givesthem a place that they can be dropped off and
their parents can leave and they can be theirown person and they can make friends.
(19:01):
So it really is developing their independencewhen they're at Gigi's, while they're there,
we want them to do things on their own.
We're trying to teach them these life skills
that they can go do things on their own.
And a lot of them, that's where their friends
are.
So they come to be with their friends, to
socialize, to hang out, to cook with them.
(19:23):
Our fitness classes every week, they come and
work out with their friends.
And, yeah, it's a place that there's
volunteers there.
Yes, that we are overseeing it, but we're all
kind of taught to make sure they are doing iton their own and developing that independence
for them.
We don't want to do things for them because
(19:44):
they are adults.
Cassy (19:46):
Yeah, I think that, again, that's just a really important thing to remember, is that
they're adults and that also they have thesame needs as everyone else.
Alisha (19:59):
Yeah.
Cassy (20:02):
What was that video that went, that was released maybe last year or the year before,
but it was basically about people with downsyndrome saying, like, I don't have special
needs.
The needs I have are the same as everyone
else.
I need belonging and love and a community and
a purpose.
It's the same thing everyone else needs.
Alisha (20:20):
Exactly.
And, yeah, that is one thing we hear around
Gigi's is that it does give some of ouradults, even the older ones, like, we have
some in their 40s or even 50s.
It gives them something to do and to go to so
they're not just sitting at home.
It's kind of exciting.
Like, oh, I have Gigi's to go to today.
I have to get up and go see my friends, and
(20:43):
it's motivation to go do that, and it's kindof like a purpose, like they need me.
So that's really cool.
Cassy (20:53):
Now, what about if someone were to want to get involved, but they don't have a family
member with down syndrome?
Alisha (20:59):
Yes. So we love volunteers like that.
So if someone wants to come volunteer or they
want their child to be around other childrenthat have down syndrome, they can volunteer
right alongside with the children that are intheir age group.
So it's really cool.
(21:20):
We're always looking for volunteers or even to
volunteer as a family because it's really coolwhen the kids maybe are working out next to a
child with down syndrome, they can be like amodel for them and they can kind of show them
how to do the activity.
And it's really motivating is what we see is
(21:41):
when a typical peer comes alongside them andcheers them on and genuinely wants to praise
them and to do it with them.
So we're always looking for those volunteers
that want to come in.
Even if you don't have someone with down
syndrome, we'll kind of introduce you to theworld and just get you used to it.
(22:08):
Sometimes, if you might want to stand back andobserve a little bit, I say you're welcome to,
but honestly, the participants will kind ofdrag you in.
They'll notice you're new and they'll say,who's that?
What's your name?And they'll pull you in right away and get you
involved, which is really cool.
Cassy (22:26):
Yeah, that is, and I think that's great.
Just again, to kind of go back to what wetalked about before, typical peers need to be,
in my opinion, around their neurodivergentpeers.
It enriches their lives, too.
(22:47):
Not just the people that are neurodivergent,
but meeting people with different needs andbeing able to accept those differences and
even embrace them and say, this person is myfriend, even though they are not like me.
Alisha (23:01):
Yeah, we love when that happens.
It's really cool.
There's even a little boy that he had beenvolunteering at his school in a class for
those with special needs, and he knew that oneof the little kiddos went to Gigi's and he
went home and told his mom, like, hey, I wantto go there too and volunteer.
(23:23):
Him and his mom now come to Gigi's andvolunteer in our fitness class.
And it's just cool seeing the way he caninteract with the kiddos his own age and just
like his love just shows through and you cantell it's changing his life as well.
He just feels so fulfilled and he's upset whenhe can't come if he has a different event or
(23:46):
something.
It's really cool to see those interactions.
Yeah.
Cassy (23:52):
And so you have events that you guys do.
Do you have one that for you has been one ofyour favorite events that you have arranged?
Alisha (24:01):
Well, I mean, I'd have to say pancakes and pajamas, I do say is like my favorite day
of the year and that would still have to standbecause that is our biggest event of the whole
year.
The most people come to that and it's just for
me, so cool to have everybody all together andit's just such a happy Christmas and joy
(24:23):
filled day like you saw.
It's a great way to start off your holiday
season just with all that happiness and thelive music.
I would have to say that is my favorite day ofthe year for sure.
It's the most fun.
It's the most just like laid back and they can
(24:44):
really be themselves.
Cassy (24:47):
Do you have other holiday because you said you have holiday events, so what about
other times where it's not in the winter, like4 July or St. Patrick's Day or whatever it may
be.
Alisha (24:59):
Exactly.
So yeah, we like to really celebrate every
holiday at Gigi's.
So what we do is for our programs, we do
monthly programs.
So like one Saturday a month it will be our
preschoolers, and then one Saturday it's thekids, and one Saturday it's the adults.
Like that.
So whatever holiday is near it, like that
(25:21):
month will be themed.
Like that.
So yes, we will do, like a themed program forSt. Patrick's Day and everything.
They'll do little reading and math activitiesand fine motor activities that are all related
to rainbows and pots of gold so that it reallymakes it fun and festive.
We'll do an Easter egg hunt at Easter andthey'll do Easter activities and then they'll
(25:45):
go outside and hunt for eggs.
And that's been a really fun one, too, because
we hear from parents that when they take theirchildren to these big egg hunts in the
community, of course they're always welcome.
And we love that they would include our
children.
But our children often may have a slower
(26:06):
reaction time and it might take them longer toreach down and find the eggs.
And often we heard that even just they weregetting trampled on.
Yeah.
From egg to egg.
They were getting trampled on or just leftbehind.
And we're getting one egg at the egg huntwhile the other kiddos would get a whole
basket.
So we love our egg hunt at Gigi's playhouse
(26:28):
just because they can take their time, theycan take a long time.
And we put so many eggs out that we actuallyteach them how to do an egg hunt and let them
actually practice how to pick up the eggs andhow to walk and find them because those skills
are so important, but they get missed when youcan't break it down and do it slowly for them.
So that's kind of the point of what we do, isthat if they practice at ours, then maybe they
(26:53):
can go and be a little more successful atthose bigger ones.
Or it just gives an opportunity for the familyto take them to one that's more for their pace
and they still get to have a good time.
Cassy (27:04):
Yeah. And that's a good example because we've experienced that.
Bless my son's heart.
My older son, that's twelve, he is the best
big brother.
He will be the one that will sit there and
hold Wyatt's hand and walk him slowly from eggto egg.
(27:27):
But even with that help, you've got a hundredother kids that are just mad dash running all
over the.
You can't, it's not a competition, but it's
like, you can't compete with that becausethey're going to be gone by the time you get
to whatever eggs that are available.
You just can't keep up.
Alisha (27:48):
Yeah. So if there's anybody listening that is looking for those kind of activities,
an egg hunt that's more sensory friendly ormore at their child's pace, you're definitely
welcome to check out Gigi's.
Cassy (28:06):
Yeah. And someone who were to volunteer for those kinds of events, what kinds of
things would they be able to do?
Alisha (28:15):
Yeah. So volunteers, we usually have them come early to the events so that they can
work on prep work, setting up for the programof the day or the event of the day.
And then we also kind of just try to meetahead of time and make sure everybody's on the
same page knows what we're doing.
(28:35):
And then during the program or the event,
there's a variety of different ways you canjust help with.
Sometimes you help one on one with a childwith down syndrome or one on one with a child
that's a sibling.
Just if a parent brings a few different kids
with them.
It's sometimes helpful just to pair up like
(28:56):
that and do the activities.
Or you might just be, if it's a group
activity, just cheering for everyone and beingthere to help with the materials and the
activities and setting things up, that's kindof like our programs that we have on a regular
basis.
But there's also, like you had mentioned,
(29:17):
bigger events.
So we do a gala every year as fundraisers.
We do like a golf outing.
We do bingo.
So those are more like most of the day eventsthat volunteers could get involved with.
If they like to help plan events, there'salways, like, committees they could join to
help us actually plan the event ahead of timeand pick out the decorations and look for
(29:42):
sponsors.
So there's so many different ways to be
involved for volunteers.
So it's a good place to volunteer.
Cassy (29:51):
Yeah, it sounds like it.
And for families that do have children with
special needs, how do they get started withthe programming there?
You just show up?
Alisha (30:03):
Yeah, you can.
So if you've heard about us or seen us online
or whatever, you can just show up.
We have an online calendar on our website that
kind of shows what times things are.
And when you click on them, it'll tell you the
age group or what to expect.
There's also a way to create a mygg's login,
(30:26):
like username and password, and then RSVP forthose events so that we know you're coming and
can expect, you know, if you're even nervousto come your first time, you can always reach
out to us and we can just have you during anyopen hours to give you a tour or just to maybe
(30:46):
see the playhouse when it's not very full.
And you can kind of experience it just like
with just your family or if you want to meetjust another family or something.
But, yeah, you're always welcome to come outand try anything.
And then the ones that are like, sessionbased, kind of like if you're interested in
(31:06):
the tutoring and you want to sign up, you'dsign up for the whole 15 week session.
That's also on our website, too.
You just go on there and you can register for
the session and we'll pair you up.
Cassy (31:19):
And it's so amazing that these services, like you said, are always free for
the families.
Alisha (31:27):
Exactly. Yeah. So that is one thing as a whole that Gigi's puts out there, is that
they don't want money to be a barrier toachievement, is what we say.
So if your child has down syndrome, we wantthis to be free to your family just to bring
them, and it's not free for us to run, ofcourse.
(31:50):
So that's why we do the fundraisers throughoutthe year.
And the fundraisers are fun.
They're a way to maybe get extended family
involved or maybe your coworkers or yourfriends to kind of come out and support those
fundraisers or local businesses.
We're trying to get sponsorship from local
businesses and things like that, too, so thatit's not the families that are paying, but
(32:16):
kind of the community comes together for a funevent, and then the proceeds go towards it.
Cassy (32:22):
So how does a business get involved with Gigi's?
What can they business owner manager for abusiness, and they think, hey, I'd really like
to support this organization.
What can they do?
Alisha (32:34):
Yeah, I mean, we have a bunch of different ways for each of our events that are
coming up.
Like for the gala that's coming up in April,
we'll have different sponsorship levels.
So a business could choose to be one of our
sponsors, and they could pay a set amount, andthen they could get some complimentary tickets
(32:57):
to come to the gala.
They would get an advertisement in our
program.
We'd advertise them on the screen, on social
media, those kind of incentives just to kindof partner with those organizations to show
that they're supporting us, but then to honorthem as well, to have them see what we're
doing.
(33:17):
So at each event, we do it that way.
We also have a believe in our build campaigngoing on right now because we're actually
expanding to a new building.
So if there's any businesses that specifically
want to help with the build out of that, theycould even sponsor one of our new rooms or
areas in the new playhouse.
(33:37):
So we're definitely looking on our website.
There's opportunities there.
Or just reach out to us for email.
We can come do presentations at your businessand present what we are and why we're looking
for support.
Or you could come for a tour and we could show
you kind of in action what we're doing sodifferent ways, but we've only been around for
(33:59):
almost four years, so we still feel likethere's a lot of people that haven't heard of
us, and I'm sure there's more businesses thatmight want to get involved and support us.
Cassy (34:10):
And you said you are getting a new building.
Alisha (34:13):
Yeah. So we've been in this one for, I said going on four years, and the trend we've
seen over the last four years is like atripling effect.
So from the time we started in January of2020, we've just seen a tripling of the number
of families that come.
The number of participants, the number of free
(34:34):
program hours that we deliver has tripled aswell.
We're doing close to 500 free program hoursper month by volunteers, but our space hasn't
tripled.
So we're pretty crammed in the playhouse right
now for a lot of our programs.
They're pretty tight.
So we're actually going to a building justacross the street or not even across the
(34:59):
street.
It's just across the parking lot and it's
three times the size of our current one.
So we'll be in a 7400 square foot building.
Right now we're working on painting it,getting up the carpet, getting new carpet
down, building furniture, that kind of stuffto move in in the new year.
Cassy (35:20):
That's like three times the size.
Wow.
Alisha (35:23):
Yeah, we're excited.
Cassy (35:25):
I bet.
And will there be more that you're able to do
with the additional space?
Alisha (35:36):
Yeah, for sure.
So by opening up the new building, instead of
just one tutoring room, we're going to nowhave three tutoring rooms so that three
different kiddos can get tutored at the sametime instead of just one.
We're going to have an actual kitchen becauseright now we just have a little kitchenette
and then we put up tables and we plug in likeair fryers and stuff in our current building.
(36:01):
So the new kitchen will be a full kitchen witha stove and countertops and everything we need
to actually teach our adults how to work in areal kitchen.
Our gym.
Yeah, that sounds fun, right?
Our site coordinator is the only paid staffmember that we have and right now she just has
(36:22):
a desk right when you walk in.
So we'll be giving her like a separate office
with a door and a window that she can have herown office to get work done in there.
So that will be helpful.
Our kiddos and participants really love the
stage.
They just love going on stage and singing
(36:43):
karaoke and giving speeches and things likethat.
So we're actually going to have a separatestage in a separate room for our adults
because right now our adults are meeting attables with toys behind them and stuff, which,
like I mentioned before, we feel isn't as ageappropriate.
So we're going to give them their own spacefor our adults.
(37:07):
We call them our fantastic friends and theirrooms called like Club G. And it's going to be
set up kind of like a game room or just a funhangout space for them with just fun stuff and
no kids toys.
So they'll have their own stage in there as
well, so that they can go on there and singkaraoke, they can dance, they can give
(37:28):
speeches, and we're really excited about that.
Cassy (37:33):
Yeah, that sounds like, I think any teenager adult would want to have their own
space.
That sounds really awesome.
Alisha (37:42):
Yeah, we're excited about that.
Cassy (37:45):
Well, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today about all of.
I mean, like, you know, we are relatively newto Pa, so we came to our first Gigi's
playhouse, and it was incredible.
And we're so excited to be involved.
And I hope for everyone listening that youtake some time to learn more about Gigi's,
(38:07):
because they just make such a positive impactin the lives of our down syndrome communities
across the country.
Alisha (38:16):
Yeah. Thank you so much for having us.
And, yeah, we would love to get anyone
involved that isn't involved yet.
Cassy (38:24):
And where, if they want to find you, where can they find you?
Social media and online.
Alisha (38:30):
Yeah. So we are on social media.
For Facebook, it's Gigi's Playhouse Lancaster.
Same with instagram.
Gigi's Playhouse Lancaster.
And then our website would behouse.orgbackslash Lancaster would be ours
specifically.
And Gigi's is G-I-G-I.
(38:52):
Well, not in social media.
You don't put the apostrophe, but G-I-G-I-S
for Gigi's Playhouse.
Yeah.
Well, great.
Cassy (39:01):
Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy your holiday season.
This episode will be released after theholidays because we're taking a holiday break,
but right now we are recording.
It's not yet Christmas.
Alisha (39:12):
Yes. Thank you so much.
Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
Cassy (39:16):
All right, we will talk to you soon.
Alisha (39:18):
All right, thank you.
Cassy (39:28):
That's our episode for this week.
New episodes will drop every Monday.
Make sure to subscribe so you never miss out.
Leave us review and share to help other moms
find us.
Thanks for stopping by the Fireflies and
Whoopee Pie podcast, the only podcast by southcentral Pa moms or south central Pa moms.
Until next time.
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