RE: McHenry Playhouse Article

[Guest guest]

Great job!!

From:

DownSyndromeInfoExchange

[mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ] On Behalf Of Carol in

IL

Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 11:18 AM

To: DSIE

Subject: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] McHenry Playhouse Article

So we need to a do a little work on his people first

language skills... but all in all, what a great piece he did! He picked up on

the abortion issue right away too. :-)

It didn't come through with copy and paste,

but he is linked to 'i have a voice' on youtube as well.

http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/

You need to scroll down just a bit.

GiGi's Playhouse Coming to

McHenry for Down Syndrome Kids

You know that I am a member of the Crystal

Lake Kiwanis Club.

It meets twice a month at Colonial Cafe. We often have informative speakers.

Wednesday,

a mother and aunt of Down Syndrome children came to explain GiGi's Playhouse,

which is opening soon in McHenry.

The pamphlet passed out calls it “a Down Syndrome awareness center.”

They were not only informative, they were inspirational.

They came to talk about a new GiGi's Playhouse, which will open in McHenry on

Route 31 north of Route 120 the end of April. It just south of McCullom Lake

Road.

sburg's Carol Ancel, who is the mother of a Down Syndrome child did most of

the talking. She was accompanied by DuBois of Spring Grove. DuBois is the

aunt I mentioned.

Ancel explained that the Down's kids “learn to read pretty early.”

The pamphlet tells of a “FREE Learn to Read” program. It points out that

research shows that “children with Down Syndrome learn to read differently.”

She and DuBois would like to help develop more such opportunities.

Because they “mimic kids around them,” the two are planning to open a place

where Down's kids can play with normal kids their own age.

“You

try to stop the segregation of disabilities,” Ancel said.

Their goal is ambitious. They are talking birth to adulthood.

As they learn, “they are so much happier to do it with a group,” Ancel said, so

another reason for the intermingling with other children their age.

Ancel pointed out something I didn't realize: some of the young people “have

drivers' licenses.”

Some “have kiosk businesses.”

“When you get a diagnosis, you get nothing but (negative input),” she said.

Ancel said the group was seeking legislation to require those making diagnoses

“to give accurate information.”

“80 to 90% of prenatal diagnoses are aborted,” she continued.

I must admit that brought me up short.

“If you have a kid with Down Syndrome, (people should be saying) 'You're so

lucky!'”

GiGi's Playhouse is designed for more than “just the emotional support; it's

the practical support.”

The two women got know what a GiGi's Playhouse is all about at the Hoffman Estates'

location.

They

concluded that it was “easier to start one yourself than to take (kids all the

way) to Hoffman Estates.”

Besides the planned one in McHenry, another will soon open in Chicago and one is

in the planning stages in Westmont, we were told. Another is already open in Plainfield.

As Ancel described it, this is a Moms' Effort. It's an all-volunteer effort.

“If the parents, don't participate and volunteer, we won't last long,” she

added.

And McHenry County “Moms” and others like Aunt are ready to open a GiGi's

Playhouse in McHenry on April 26th.

Hey, that's the end of this month.

“It's in a positive, uplifting, the sky's the limit type of program,” Ancel

explained.

An anonymous donor has donated use of the building, which is next to a liquor

store at 1720 N. Richmond Road, behind Applebee's.

Activities will be scheduled, rather than run continuously.

On

the last Saturday of the month the Playhouse will be open from noon to 3. Here's

the invitation.

It says,

“Come for Fun,

Games, Food and Friends!”

So, bring your kidlings, regardless of age and regardless of whether they have

Down Syndrome.

The group's slogan is

“Loving a Child

with Down Syndrome is Contagious. Help us spread the Love!”

= = = = =

Carol Ancel is the woman in the pictures. The map shows where GiGi's Playhouse

is located in McHenry.

Labels:

Abortion, Carol Ancel,

Crystal

Lake Kiwanis, Gigi's

Playhouse, Kiwanis,

DuBois

# posted by Cal Skinner : 7:10 AM 0

comments Error! Filename not

specified.

Carol in IL

AIM doihavtasay1 GigaTribe doihavtasay

Mom to seven including

, 7 with TOF, AVcanal, GERD, LS, Asthma, subglottal stenosis, and DS.

My problem is not how I look. It's how you see me.

Join our

Down Syndrome information group -

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DownSyndromeInfoExchange/

Listen to

oldest dd's music http://www.myspace.com/vennamusic

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one

month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

My son Bret is also in the "I have a voice" youtube video. He is also in the Gigi's Playhouse calendar in June.

the opening of the McHenry Playhouse is so exciting. Its going to be awsome. Aunt and the others are great people.

Take care and thanks for posting. Jeanette

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

My son Bret is also in the "I have a voice" youtube video. He is also in the Gigi's Playhouse calendar in June.

the opening of the McHenry Playhouse is so exciting. Its going to be awsome. Aunt and the others are great people.

Take care and thanks for posting. Jeanette