She knows every word to a Taylor Swift song on the radio, will only wear her backpack on one shoulder because its cool and her favorite pair of shoes are black patent leather boots. Gigi Gianni is just like your average 7-year-old with an attitude, but she also has Down syndrome.

She loves like everyone else, gets angry like everyone else and hurts like everyone else, said Gigi Giannis mother Nancy Gianni of Barrington. We need to replace the textbook image of Down syndrome with these photographs.

The photographs Nancy Gianni refers to are from the I Have a Voice project, a traveling photo exhibition featuring portraits of children and adults with Down syndrome. The exhibition attempts to capture the souls of the subjects, said the projects photographer Thomas Balsamo. The gallery is currently on display at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., and will be open to the public through the end of November.

The project, which began in the fall of 2007, is the product of a collaboration of forces, all of which strove to spread awareness about Down syndrome. Since its creation, the display has traveled all over Chicagoland as well as to Denver, Colo. and Bloomington, Ind.

Nancy Gianni, founder of Gigis Playhouse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to Down syndrome awareness, said that her push to get the project going came one day when she was called in to Gigis school by her teacher. Though her daughter was doing well in school, the teacher told her that some of her classmates parents had called in because they were uncomfortable with having a kid like her in the class.

Gigi was being judged because she wears her diagnosis on her face, Nancy Gianni said. I just want these parents to see her and other kids with Down syndrome for the beautiful people they are. Thats what were trying to do with this gallery. Instead of a 1950s textbook sketch, they will see this smart, sophisticated image.

Balsamo, owner of Portraits by Thomas in Barrington, said he hoped the project would create an emotional response from the people who view it. Through his work, he said, he hoped to give back and make the world a better place. And Balsamos not all hot air; he is also the co-creator and photographer of Souls: Beneath and Beyond Autistm, which was awarded The Autism Society of Americas Literary Work of the Year in 2003.

When referring to the subjects of his work, Balasamo seemed in awe at the relationships between the family members and the children. He was lucky, he said, to be a part of the project.

Its just incredible to see the parents of these children rise to the occasion and become great parents,” he said. “They deal with challenges every day, but they are so positive about life. Gigis is so special because it teaches people to celebrate uniqueness. So many people have been touched by GigisIm happy I could contribute to their effort.

After Nancy Gianni and Balsamo came together to work on the project, the final piece came from Lisa Schuh whose 4-year-old daughter, Teagan Schuh, has Down syndrome and was featured in a past Gigis Playhouse calendar. When Lisa Schuhs father, Steve Bagby, heard about the project, he decided to work with his daughter to take the project to a whole new level. The two have now helped turn I Have a Voice into a national campaign.

The next portion of the project is a coffee table book waiting to be published, Schuh said. She and members of Gigis playhouse are raising money to get the book published, and will a reception Nov. 14 at the Des Plaines Library to raise awareness about the project.

The photos are a great way to open up dialogue about Down syndrome, Nancy Gianni said. We want kids to walk by and ask their parents Whats that? Lets read about [Down syndrome], talk about it and help people not to be afraid of it.

GiGi’s Playhouse currently has locations in Hoffman Estates, Aurora, Chicago, McHenry and Sioux City, Iowa. In 2010, Nancy Gianni said Gigis will open two more playhouses in Iowa, one in San Diego and one in New York. For more information about Gigis Playhouse, go to www.gigisplayhouse.com.

To see a video of some of the images from I Have a Voice, click here.

To see a photo gallery featuring images from the exhibition, click here.

By Bridget Doyle, Triblocal.com reporter