CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Gigi’s Playhouse is now open in Charlotte.

The Down Syndrome Achievement Center offers free educational classes, therapeutic services, and life skill classes for people with Down Syndrome.

There are roughly 40 locations across the country. Jessica Allen turned to the Raleigh, N.C. location for help and guidance when she learned her son, Everett, had Down Syndrome at her 20 week ultrasound.

She co-founded the Charlotte location to help families and people with Down Syndrome get the same support she had.

Allen said, “When I had a child with Down syndrome and I walked through the doors of Gigi’s Playhouse there was this exhale because there was this immediate understanding of where we were at and what we needed to move forward." 

Ninety-nine percent of Gigi’s Playhouse employees are volunteers. To find out more about volunteering visit here.