• Nationwide network of Down syndrome achievement centers.

• Offers educational, therapeutic-based, and career

development programs free of charge for individuals of all

ages with Down syndrome, their families, and the community.

About GiGi’s Playhouse

Community Awareness and Program Sustainability at GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville

Amy Goodman, OTD/S

School of Occupational Therapy, Belmont University

Increased Community Awareness:

• New strategies for community outreach

• Specifically interested in increasing participation of

individuals aged 0-5

Sustainability of Programs:

• Heavy reliance on volunteers to serve as program leaders,

program volunteers, and tutors turnover in the

leadership of programs challenges for consistent

program offerings

• Initial focus on increasing sustainability of Cooking Club

Adult Program Expansion:

• Expand to include GiGi Prep, GiGi University, and GiGi’s

Internship programs

• Gather information from current adult participants and their

families to determine if there is interest in starting these

programs in Nashville

This Experiential Component (EC) consisted of three individual

projects, each with their own goals:

1. Distribute informational material regarding GiGi’s Playhouse

to local healthcare professionals

• Goal: increase awareness and knowledge in these

healthcare professionals and the families they serve in

regard to GiGi’s Playhouse, their program offerings, and

their mission and vision.

• Long-term goal: increase program participation of 0-5

year-olds.

2. Gather information from current adult participants about

interest in GiGi Prep, GiGi University, and GiGi’s Internship

programs.

• Goal: provide the Board of Managers with feedback

they can utilize to make a data-driven, financially

responsible decision.

3. Create a database of visual recipes for Cooking Club and

lesson plans with lists of tips for each program for future

program leaders.

• Goal: increase sustainability of programs by reducing

the time and planning required of program leaders,

making it feasible for the programs to be offered on a

regular basis, even without a consistent program leader.

Outcomes of Project 1

Outcomes of Project 2

Goals of Experiential Component

Acknowledgements

Mission and Vision

Identified Needs of Agency

I would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to the participants,

staff, volunteers, and families at GiGi’s for making this project feasible.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a meaningful and

unique organization and community. Specifically, I would like to thank

my expert mentors, Janea Cathey and Kate Harris for their support

and collaboration during my experiential component. I would also like

to show appreciation to Belmont University and my faculty mentor, Dr.

Sue Iliff, for her guidance throughout the entire EC process.

• The mission of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome

Achievement Center (GiGi’s) is to change the way the world

views Down syndrome through national campaigns,

educational programs, and by empowering individuals with

Down syndrome, their families, and the community.

• Their vision is to see a world where individuals with Down

syndrome are accepted and embraced in their families,

schools, and communities. In doing so, they advance a

global vision of acceptance for all.

References

Expansion of adult programming:

• All households with adult participants (287 households) were

called and asked to provide feedback about whether or not

they would be interested in participating in the proposed

programs and why/why not.

Increased sustainability of Cooking Club:

• Database of 72 visual recipes was created and complied to

serve as recipes for future program leaders in Cooking Club.

• Recipes included gluten and dairy free alternatives for

participants who may require these modifications as this was

discussed as a potential challenge for future program leaders.

Increased community awareness:

• GiGi’s Playhouse brochures were provided to 22 pediatricians,

gynecologists, and therapy offices in close proximity to GiGi’s.

• Approximately 220 new families will learn about Gigi's

Playhouse and have the opportunity to participate in programs.

Outcomes of Project 3Rationale and Clinical Relevance

Additional examples of increased community awareness:

• Development of a partnership with Chick-Fil-A Thoroughbred

Square for future catering and donation opportunities.

• Cooking Club appearance on Murfreesboro Fire Rescue

Department’s cooking show, “Cooking with MFRD”.

• Job placement and training of an adult participant at Taziki’s in

downtown Franklin.

Increased program sustainability for other programs:

• Document including tips and lesson plans for each program

led during the spring semester

• Creation of literacy tutoring materials

“Occupational therapy practitioners guide individuals with Down

syndrome and their families to help them reach their potential

throughout the life span. Occupational therapy intervention

should begin as soon as a diagnosis of Down syndrome is

established and should continue throughout the individual’s life.”

Yamkovenko, (2019)

• This statement specifically addresses the importance of

therapeutic activity beginning with initial diagnosis and

continuing into adulthood, which are the specific age groups

that the three components of this EC will be benefitting.

Kumin and Schoenbrodt (2016) found that currently, “there is

high unemployment for adults with Down syndrome” and of

those adults with Down syndrome who are employed, they often

work or volunteer “in a limited number of fields, primarily in the

areas of food, janitorial work, landscaping, and office work” (p.

330).

• The proposed career development programs would address

these concerns by teaching adults with Down syndrome

necessary job and life skills for employment in a wide variety

of areas that are consistent with their strengths and interests.

• This project unexpectedly also served as a way to increase

community awareness.

• Many families had not participated in GiGi’s recently, but after

the phone call, expressed interest in participating in more

programs.

Kumin, L. & Schoenbrodt, L. (2016). Employment in adults with Down syndrome in

the United States: results from a national survey. Journal of Applied Research

in Intellectual Disabilities, 29, 330-345. doi: 10.1111/jar.12182

Yamkovenko, S. (2019). The role of OT with persons with Down syndrome.

Retrieved from http://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-

Therapy/Professionals/CY/Articles/Down.aspx

*Additional references available upon request.