Walk of Empowerment

The Runway of Dreams is a nonprofit organization that supports the movement for disability inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries by raising awareness and inspiring change. The program celebrates people's differences, challenges stereotype and highlights the need for adaptive and universal design products and collections.

Founded in 2014 by Mindy Scheier, a fashion designer and mother of a child with muscular dystrophy, the organization emerged from a deeply personal need. When Scheier's son Oliver expressed his desire to wear jeans like his peers but struggled with traditional fastenings due to his disability, she leveraged her design expertise to create functional yet stylish adaptations. This pivotal moment ignited her mission to ensure that adaptive clothing becomes as mainstream as petite or plus-size options, addressing a critical gap in the market for the over 1 billion people worldwide with disabilities

In the United States, the organization has established student-led clubs across various university campuses. As a photography student at Syracuse University, I was drawn to the organization’s mission and impact. My curiosity led me to document its initiatives and follow the stories of students with disabilities at Syracuse. This journey culminated in capturing the university’s first-ever adaptive fashion show, organized by Runway of Dreams.

This ongoing documentary project examines the experiences of individuals with disabilities seeking representation and inclusion in the fashion industry. It explores their challenges, motivations, and aspirations, providing insight into personal journeys and industry barriers. The documentation serves as both a historical record of milestone events and an exploration of the broader social implications of inclusive design in fashion.