CLEVELAND — Down syndrome can affect the way that someone’s brain and body develops, which can create barriers. Places like GiGi’s Playhouse makes the effort to help break down some of these barriers.

What You Need To Know

  • GiGi's Playhouse is a nonprofit that helps people with down syndrome break down barriers 

  • They offer programs to help with fitness, music expression, and more 

  • The nonprofit is also a place that is a place for families to come as well 

Lili Moore is one of the participants at the GiGi’s Playhouse in Cleveland. She takes part in programs like Project Pulse, which is a program designed to let people with Down syndrome express themselves through music.

“I have a lot of memories,” Moore said.

Project Pulse is one of the dozens of programs offered at GiGi’s Playhouse. It’s a national nonprofit that’s started Down syndrome achievement centers across the country including ones in Cincinnati, Canton and Cleveland. Lizz Maxwell, the executive director of GiGi’s Playhouse in Cleveland, explained what they do.

“We offer free therapeutic educational career development programs for people with Down syndrome and their families in our community,” Maxwell said.

The Cleveland location is where Moore has been coming for years and she expressed that it’s a place for her to be exactly who she is.

“Cause my friends always here and I always talk to them and it's really nice to be here,” Moore said.

Research shows that the life expectancy for those with down syndrome has significantly increased over the years, many people who have Down syndrome will live into their 60s and beyond. This means that it’s crucial to provide support for people with Down syndrome, at any age. Linda Rau, a parent of two men with Down syndrome, expressed her appreciation for GiGi’s.

“It’s really good for them to have a place to come where they’re loved and accepted for who they are and they’re encouraged to be more, everything that they can be,” Linda said.

Linda and her husband Mark are parents to Jacob and Jonathan who have been coming to GiGi’s for years. They take part in programs like Project Pulse and GiGi Fit, which a program designed to help people with Down syndrome work on their fitness and target some of the physical challenges.

“It’s given them the opportunity to really fit in, to have people that are similar interests and they’ve made a lot of friendships,” Mark Rau said. 

The ultimate goal for GiGi’s is to be a resource for people with Down syndrome, but also for their families too. Whether it’s supporting pregnant women who are about to give birth to a child with Down syndrome or giving parents like the Raus a place for their sons to go while the Raus get some time for themselves.

“During that hour we’ll go for a walk, go to the library, gives us an opportunity to have a little bit of a break to do something,” Mark Rau said.

Maxwell explained that one of her many goals is to change the way that the world views people who have down syndrome. 

“We’re 99% volunteer run, we want the volunteers to come in, be a part of this. We want the community to come through our doors and be a part of it and to see just how capable our friends are, how much can they accomplish,” Maxwell said.

For people like Moore, she’s building her confidence with the help of places like GiGi’s.

“I just like myself,” Moore said.

March 21 is also World Down Syndrome Day, which is a day to celebrate people who have Down syndrome and continue to advocate for them to be included and respected in society.