GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester has partnered with Pride Plumbing to provide an innovative program that provides professional work experience to teens and adults with Down syndrome.
Ready. Set. Work is a free program that will be held every Monday beginning Sept. 20 and running through Dec. 6 at GiGi’s Playhouse on North Goodman Street. Ready. Set. Work helps engage GiGi’s young adults who are 16 years old or older by providing them with hands-on experience that marketing professionals are responsible for, while also demonstrating their capabilities to be productive members of the workplace, particularly when provided with the proper training support, encouragement and opportunity.
“Our pilot program was very successful in engaging young adult participants and providing them with insights on the day-to-day tasks our marketing professionals complete,” said Jeff Donlon, GiGi’s board member and partner at Catapult Solutions Group.
The program is led by Meghan Cacchione, Pride Plumbing’s marketing and communications manager, and will focus on customer service skills including inbound and outbound phone calls, creating and scheduling appointments, requesting feedback and responding to positive and negative feedback.
GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester plans to develop more programming focused on career skills and professional development targeting young adults with Down syndrome regardless of their ability to break down barriers and bring awareness that people with Down syndrome can be valuable additions to the workforce.
Companies interested in partnering with GiGi’s in future work experience programs can contact Donna Rush at [email protected]. Registration for the program can be found at gigisplayhouse.org/Rochester/calendar/month.
[email protected] / 585-653-4021
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