Women with Disabilities Star at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation's Design for Disability Gala, May 16

    NEW YORK, NY, May 11, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Award-winning designers, a museum fashion-curator, a disabled psychologist who is also a pioneering fashion model, and Ms. Wheelchair America 2016 will serve as Competition Jurors at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation's Design for Disability Gala (D4D), which will take place on Monday, May 16, 2016, 6:00-9:30 p.m., at Sotheby's in New York City.

The Design for Disability Gala is the culmination of a five-month competition with students at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to design clothing that will transform the fashion experience for women with disabilities.

In the first round of the competition, 35 students presented designs to the Jury. Five semi-finalists were chosen to produce two outfits from their collection. Each semi-finalist is working with two women with disabilities as models for the Gala runway show. Designs were critiqued on overall design, originality and responsiveness to addressing the needs of women with physical disabilities.

"D4D is a thrilling example of how our Foundation approaches the world of disabilities: bringing together diverse thinkers to collaborate on ways to improve lives with ideas and solutions which are already out there waiting to be tapped," said Richard Ellenson, CEO of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. "The evening, and the work we introduce, will spur innovation, insight and greater public awareness of issues that women with disabilities face-and the ways we can address them."

"It really is encouraging to see just how talented these FIT students are," said designer Thom Browne, a mentor and juror for the competition. "I think it was amazing to see just how serious they were about the whole project."

"Working with committed professionals from both CPF and FIT, along with my fellow jurors, has been an unforgettable experience," said Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, a psychologist and fashion model. Dr. Sheypuk is known widely for her groundbreaking cruise in her power wheelchair down a fashion-show runway during New York Fashion Week, February 2014.

Other distinguished jurors include Ann Roth, Academy, Emmy and Tony Award-Winning Costume Designer; Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; and Dr. Alette Coble-Temple, Ms. Wheelchair America 2016.

The five student designers are KatiLin Stone, Ayao Sasaki, NyLeah Ford, Grace Elizabeth Insonga and Emily Chao.

Competition Prizes include The Genise Goldenson Prize: First Place Winner: $5,000; Second Place Winner: $2,500; Third Place Winner: $1,500; Two Honorable Mention Winners: $500

The Genise Goldenson Prize and other financial awards for the Design for Disability competition have been provided by the Loreen Arbus Foundation.

The models for the runway competition are Elena Anadolis, Helen Cranch, Andrea Dalzell, Jessica De La Rosa, Cara Liebowitz, Jessica Mucciariello, Annie Nason, Desiree Ray, Yesenia Torres and Jessica Yates. George Ortiz serves as Lead Stylist and Stephen Keyes as Make-up Consultant for the event.

The Gala will be a true Fashion Fete, beginning with a simple but stylish cocktail reception and moving into a seated runway presentation, a live auction - and finish with a passed dessert. The organizers anticipate 300 guests.

About the Cerebral Palsy Foundation
CP is a widely prevalent condition that affects nearly one million people in the United States and 17 million worldwide. It is caused by damage to the brain as an infant, creating a group of permanent disorders in body movement which result in a diverse and often devastating range of issues. It is the most common physical disability in children. Every hour another child is born with CP.

CPF's work transforms lives for people with cerebral palsy - through research, innovation and collaboration. We bring together great thinkers in medical research, science, design and technology to collaborate on solutions for the most pressing problems faced by people with cerebral palsy and related disabilities. Through our novel approach, we are changing lives today.

To see more about our work, visit cerebralpalsyfoundation.org

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