GiGi’s Playhouse may sound like a fun place, but it is electric with possibility. The sounds emanating from this nonprofit space for individuals and families with Down syndrome are the sounds of a community pushing back against doubt.
The squeak of sneakers in a fitness class, the scratch of a pen during literacy tutoring, the laughter of a life being celebrated, this place is the result of 4 years of dedication. After opening its doors in August 2024, the Simi Valley GiGi's Playhouse operates on a franchise-like model, self-governed by its own board, responsible for all local fundraising, staffing and programming. This autonomy allows the playhouse to tailor its global mission to the local community's needs.
This localized strength is supported by a larger guiding hand. GiGi’s Inc. acts as a national overseer, ensuring all Playhouses adhere to the same core mission and values. This structure combines the rigor of a national nonprofit with grassroots, local control. While GiGi's Inc. guides the startup, each Playhouse is responsible for cultivating the community partnerships and fundraising efforts that sustain its free programs.
At the center's core is a simple, powerful mission: empowerment. The organization directly tackles what Executive Director Frankie Cohen calls a cultural challenge.
“We want to counteract the myth that individuals with Down syndrome will have a very low quality of life.” For new parents, this means reframing diagnosis as a cause for joy, welcoming them with celebration packets and an instant community. For participants, the focus is on self-advocacy.
“We give them a stage and a microphone to share their voices,” Cohen says, making the playhouse a literal and figurative platform for capability.
One of the most extraordinary features of the playhouse is that all of its programs are free. This necessity dismantles the financial and logistical hurdles families face. Programming runs the gamut from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood. Fitness classes are a draw for adults who have aged out of school district support. Meanwhile, the specialized literacy tutoring program has a waitlist, underscoring community demand for these essential services roadblocked by insurance and lengthy therapy waitlists.
The proof of concept lives in the people. Mindy, a 48-year-old advocate, enjoyed a 15-year career at Lowe's, and after a brief attempt at retirement, she is back in the workforce. Her dedication is visible in the space, where she made a significant personal donation to sponsor the in-house stage, a spot where she can be found singing karaoke.
The center also provides support for parents.
“These are strong parents,” Cohen says. “They celebrate little accomplishments, like a young participant bending their knees and jumping for the first time." Cohen speaks compassionately about the overwhelming load parents carry. Nearly 50% of infants with Down syndrome have a congenital heart condition. Managing health and the required weekly occupational, physical and speech therapies often requires one parent to stay home. The free services and the robust peer-to-peer community, which includes informational sessions led by lawyers on complex topics like IEPs, alleviate this incredible strain.
Fueled by the local community, every program is volunteer-led, and the playhouse invests heavily in its people, ensuring comprehensive training. This includes online modules for programs like literacy and instruction on handling different learning behaviors, acknowledging that individuals with Down syndrome, and those with dual diagnoses like autism, learn differently.
A major initiative is the annual GiGi's 5K Acceptance Challenge every April, a fundraiser built around the “Generation G” pledge, a promise to be accepting, generous and kind to everyone. The future of the Simi Valley location has momentum, with recently launched kitchen classes, teaching essential cooking and safety skills, and plans to roll out one-on-one math tutoring during the summer.
GiGi's Playhouse Simi Valley encourages individuals and families with Down syndrome to always set the bar "as high, if not higher, than their peers,” because, as Cohen cheerleads, "they are capable of much more than society often presumes."
Learn more, get involved or donate at GiGisPlayhouse.org/simivalley.
“We want to counteract the myth that individuals with Down syndrome will have a very low quality of life.”