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Disability Doesn't Even Slow Down Bridget Brown

From being the first Down syndrome student mainstreamed in her school district to starting her own advocacy organization, Bridget Brown's journeys are far and wide. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

Living like a movie star for a week, Bridget Brown of Darien had a small part in a movie with Miley Cyrus. Brown also has her own consulting business, works as a dental assistant’s assistant and has many more jobs in life few of us would ever conquer.  Having Down syndrome, the 27-year-old woman is considered to be disabled, but you would never know by the full life she leads. Brown was the first person with a disability included in her school district and is a strong advocate of inclusion. Among her dislikes is hearing someone be insulted. "Don’t call people retarded," Brown says. "I got called that, I was angry and wanted to cry.”    Another fight Brown goes up against is mothers who want to abort their babies when they find out the baby…

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Art Exhibit, Color Workshop Benefits GiGi’s Playhouse

Ethan Allen in partnership with Sherwin Williams is hosting Color Trends 2013 workshops to benefit Down syndrome awareness, educational centers.

    Ethan Allen will be showcasing the creative talents of GiGi’s Playhouse at an upcoming Art Exhibit and Color Workshop. After viewing Ethan Allen’s new line of children’s furnishings the GiGi’s Playhouse artisans were inspired to create interpretive paintings. The paintings will be exhibited Feb. 2 at 640 E. Golf Rd. in Ethan Allen’s Schaumburg location.  Sherwin Williams will be presenting two Color Trend Workshops during the week of the Art Exhibit. Participants will learn about the emerging color trends for 2013 and the HGTV Dream Home design influences. The workshops are complimentary and will take place on Monday, Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 7 from 6-8 p.m. Contributions benefitting GiGi’s Playhouse will be…

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Cheerleaders Root On Special Needs Squad

Barrington's Varsity Cheerleading squad is rooting on girls with special needs.

For three weeks, Barrington High School’s cheerleaders have been teaching different routines to young girls with Down syndrome, but it has been the varsity squad that has been learning a thing or two from the kids. “(Gigi’s Gems) have given us a different prospective,” Alexa Hanaford said of working with the aspiring girls with Down syndrome who are a part of Gigi’s Playhouse. “Their outlook is so different, and they are always so happy.” “It’s been awesome and the whole experience has been unbelievable,” Melissa Mersch, one of the many co-coaches and varsity cheerleaders working with the young girls said.  “Everything is just so positive when you are around them.” Mersch, Hanaford, Courtney Quigley and a handful of cheerleaders were the …

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