Hoffman Estates, Illinois (CNN) When Nancy Gianni and her husband welcomed their third child in 2002, they expected it to be a joyous occasion. But their bliss was dampened by unexpected news: Their newborn daughter, GiGi, had Down syndrome. Gianni immediately noticed the change in attitudes around her. "Everybody was saying they were sorry. Nobody was having eye contact with us anymore," she said. "(There was) no joy." Soon after the couple brought GiGi home, they realized she wasn't all that different from their other children. But they knew she would need some extra support. So Gianni set out to create a community for families like hers, "a place where people can walk in and celebrate their diagnosis from the minute they find out," she said. "A place to learn, a place to grow."GiGi's Playhouse has grown to more than 30 educational centersAfter her daughter was born with Down syndrome, Nancy Gianni knew other families needed helpNominate a CNN Hero here
Gianni: _'s is open to the public, so they can see our kids and adults as leaders.