There is a lot of momentum and several firsts in this episode:
• It starts with Jennifer sharing insights into her experiences modeling in Central Michigan University’s Threads Fashion Show that featured accessible fashion for the first time.
• It ends with the first time we feature a special guest – 8-year-old Maximus Miedema – who came to our house with a list of insightful questions to interview us about what MS is and why it’s important for us to participate in Walk MS on May 13.
About Threads
Accessibility was in fashion at CMU, and Jennifer was part of it.
“… I was included. Non-traditional 48-year-old, plus-size me. Non-walking, power wheelchair driving me. They wanted to include me. …”
We discuss why this was such an incredible experience for her and other models who use assistive devices and, and we imagine how it likely was the same for all the students who designed fashionable accessible clothing.
About Maximus and Walk MS
What can we tell you about our 8-year-old friend Maximus? In a nutshell, he is:
• A dynamic person with a kind and huge heart who has participated as a member of our Walk MS team – Team MonsterS – long before he could walk.
• The son of our great friends Adam and Erica Miedema, who have joined us as members of Team MonsterS long before Maximus was born.
• Among the top 25 fundraisers at last year’s Walk MS in Frankenmuth, Michigan, raising a total of $1,080.
Maximus gets behind the mic and turns the interview tables on us to hit us with questions as fundamental as, “What is Multiple Sclerosis?” to as hard-hitting as, “Are you guys famous at the MS Walk?”
Here are the links we reference for you to follow up on:
• Inside accessible fashion: My modeling moments – Take a few minutes to check out this photo/video essay to get inside Jennifer’s mind as she rolled down the runway and to follow the path that made her a model.
• Taking on Threads & accessible fashion – Join us for this episode of our podcast where we have an engaging conversation with Ian Mull, the Threads advisor and CMU Fashion Merchandising and Design faculty member.
• Walk MS – Learn more about this National Multiple Sclerosis Society event and how you can register to participate or donate to support the effort.
• Donate to Maximus Miedema – Follow this link to directly donate to our friend Maximus and help him reach his $1,000 fundraising goal for this year’s Walk MS.