This summer “The Moving Wall” Perry Ohio Committee honored the 58,256 veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War by hosting The Vietnam Combat Veterans Memorial “Moving Wall”. Using the leftover funding the committee has now shifted their focus to aiding the Vietnam Veterans in need who returned home. One of the areas the committee chose to address this holiday season was these veteran’s daily living. The committee teamed up with nonprofit

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The Mighty is a story-based health community focused on improving the lives of people facing disease, disorder, mental illness, and disability. More than half of Americans are facing serious health conditions or medical issues. They want more than information. They want to be inspired. The Mighty publishes real stories about real people facing real challenges.

Together we can make our community’s powerful voices heard on The Mighty and essentially help more in need.

Downs Designs Dreams (Dreams) advocates disability awareness and promotes independence and instills confidence by donating a special adaptive clothing line. Dreams seeks to be recognized nationwide as a leading advocate and service provider for people living with permanent or temporary disabilities. Dreams also seeks to establish itself as the standard of excellence for community engagement in education, advocacy, service and fundraising through its Adopt-a-Jean Friday and Support-A-Veteran Adopt-A-Jean programs. Downs Designs Dreams is a 501(c)3 corporation.

Here’s an example of the kind of stories on The Mighty: 

To the Teacher Who Encouraged Me as a Student With a Disability

Dear Parents: Please Teach Your Children About Service Dogs

As School Begins, Please Teach Your Children About Disabilities

The Role of Nondisabled People in Disability Awareness and Rights

The Reality of Needing to Be on Disability

27 Years After the ADA, the Employment Rate for People With Disabilities Is Still Too Low

What Pictures Not to Post Online of Your Child With a Disability

What Love Is When You Parent Kids With Disabilities]

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Cheryl writes:  “When you look up “amazing” in the dictionary you will find a photo of Silas. He is truly an amazing individual. We adopted Silas from China 5 years ago. He will be 11 in a couple of weeks. Silas is in the 4th grade and loves to play soccer and baseball. He is a great student and loves to learn. He is currently learning how to tell time. Oh….and Silas has Down Syndrome. Adding Silas to our family was our best decision ever!!”
How would a pair of our jeans make a difference in his life?
Silas dresses independently. He likes to pick out his own clothes also. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find pants that fit Silas proportionately. We have to buy pants to fit his waist and then they are always too long. Since I dont know how to sew Silas is always rolling up his pants. I have no doubt that he would love a pair of jeans that don’t have all of that extra material.

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Serena writes: “Kristine is a 15-year-old girl with Down Syndrome. Like many others, she struggles with weight and together we struggle to find pants and jeans that fit her. We have even bought the stretchy bands to put over her jeans at the top to keep her behind from hanging out. Teachers have written note after note home because Kristine’s pants aren’t “appropriate” and the teachers don’t want other kids making fun. Because she is so short and round it is hard to dress her like a cute teen girl because nothing fits. Her mom has started buying elastic waist old lady capris and maternity pants for her because that is what fits. Just one time we would like her to have JUST ONE PAIR OF JEANS!
How would a pair of our jeans make a difference in her life?
Kristine would be able to hopefully have JUST ONE PAIR OF JEANS that fit her like a teen girl deserves!

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This summer “The Moving Wall” Perry Ohio Committee honored the 58,256 veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War by hosting The Vietnam Combat Veterans Memorial “Moving Wall”. Using the leftover funding the committee has now shifted their focus to aiding the Vietnam Veterans in need who returned home. One of the areas the committee chose to address this holiday season was these veteran’s daily living. The committee teamed up with nonprofit

Downs Designs Dreams was proud to team up with Lorain Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20 and The National Association of Black Veterans Chapter 74 for “Shop With a Vet” assisting veterans in need. Downs Designs Dreams supported the mission with donations of NBZ and Downs Designs Jeans for each veteran through their Support-A-Veteran Program.

Downs Designs Dreams also partnered with NBZ Apparel through the companies social good program. Every pair of donated jeans were combined with donated Black Dress and Khaki Pants provided by NBZ Apparel.

LOCAL NEWS Veterans treated to shopping spree – The Chronicle-Telegram Full Story

Executive Director Karen Bowersox and Veteran Program Director William Herron of Downs Designs Dreams supporting The Vietnam Combat Veterans Memorial the “Moving Wall” September 2017

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Fundraising efforts have been assisted by passionate businesses who have shared a commitment towards our veterans in various ways. The most popular method has been businesses executing dress down initiatives. These programs are been led by the businesses themselves, allowing employees to donate small amounts towards the Support-A-Veteran program and in exchange are granted the opportunity to wear casual and comfortable attire within their work settings. Some companies have even matched the charitable proceeds their employees contributed. The dress down initiatives also have become very popular when paired with fan and sporting attire.

Because of the limited clothing options for people with disabilities or dressing challenges, many often dress in clothes that don’t fit appropriately, address physical challenges, nor provide social practicality. These individuals oftentimes forced to choose comfort and independent dressing instead. The higher prices attached to most adaptive wear clothing can also make the clothing they need financially unobtainable. These issues can create unfair and negative perceptions by those unaware of their dressing issues. Limited and restricted clothing options can even deteriorate one’s own self-image triggering social isolation.

Thank You Jenniffer and Co. for your work completing a donation request within the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

Downs Designs Dreams has already donated hundreds of pairs of NBZ Jeans and khakis to seven different VA Hospitals across the country. The success has developed into a national partnership with The United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The partnership is aiding efforts and extending the organization’s reach to benefit more veterans and veteran centers. The responses and letters following these donations fuel the organization’s passion and motivation. The organization was humbled to have attended The White House’s Inclusive “Design For All” event which highlighted the organization’s mission and veteran program’s importance. The program’s impact and awareness have continued to grow along with the requests that are being received; Dreams now has a goal to meet the recent requests of hundreds of pairs within several VA hospitals nationwide.

Downs Designs Dreams received additional support from My Kids Childcare Inc. who attached letters of appreciation for their veterans with every pair while completing a request for the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center.

Downs Designs Dreams has partnered with NBZ Apparel to Donate NBZ Brand clothing. The pants are constructed of soft, stretchy, sensory friendly material, no buttons, zippers, or tags, and an elastic waistband. The pants do, however, allow for belt use, have a mock fly, and come in different fashionable styles. The clothing provides wardrobe solutions that match one’s peers while granting independent dressing for all. The organization has designed jeans for everyday living as well as a black dress and khaki option, assisting with other social, formal, and employment needs. The program has aided their independent dressing with comfortable, practical, and fashionable clothing benefitting several veteran populations including elderly, Parkinson’s, amputees, stroke victims, ALS, arthritis, combat injuries and more.

Downs Designs Dreams is actively searching for potential partnerships aiding fundraising allowing the program to benefit the lives of our veterans.  The organization has built a very impressive local and national social media presence with over 75,000 Facebook followers and would be honored to share the impact continued organizational partnerships have on the program.

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Thank You! Jenniffer & Co for sponsoring a request for 50 pairs of NBZ Jeans for veterans within the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Hospital

Mentor, Ohio – December 1, 2015 – Jenniffer & Co. & Downs Designs Dreams team up to provide dressing solutions for veterans at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Center on #GivingTuesday.

Everyone deserves to feel independent and confident, right? Downs Designs Dreams makes this a reality for individuals struggling to find clothing that allows them to dress independently. Their donations of specially designed jeans make dressing easier for those who struggle to manipulate buttons and zippers due to an injury or disability.

They donate two brands, Downs Designs® and NBZ® Jeans. Both feature stylish jeans with an elastic waist, no button or zipper and soft, stretchy denim for extra comfort. They give independence and confidence to those who wear them.

SUPPORT-A-VETERAN ADOPT-A-JEAN is a program provided by Downs Designs Dreams that donates NBZ Jeans to our wounded and disabled veterans. Recently, Downs Designs Dreams donated several pairs of their special jeans to the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Center. Their feedback was accompanied with a request for 50 additional pairs.

Jeniffer Pealer, the owner of the Mentor-based Jenniffer & Company, took personal responsibility for their request and donated the cost of all 50 pair. Ms. Pealer states: “This year I would like to do something different and really focus on helping those in our area. I love OUR veterans and they deserve our support.”

Downs Designs Dreams, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to bringing more awareness to the forefront about the need for more clothing options for the growing population of people with disabilities, especially our veterans. They are reaching out to clinics and organizations to help their members find more clothing solutions.

As their mission statement reads: Downs Designs Dreams advocates disability awareness, promotes independence and instills confidence by donating a special clothing line for special people in order to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.

Karen Bowersox, Executive Director of Downs Designs Dreams states: “Over the last five years I’ve seen and heard the clothing struggles people face on a daily basis because there are very few if any, clothing options that have solutions to their dressing problems. These struggles can lead to frustration, low self-esteem and lack of independence. I have a passion for our veterans who are wounded or disabled. They deserve fashionable dressing options that give them independence and confidence. To help with this mission, I brought William Herron on board. William is a Navy veteran and his strong passion to help our veterans find clothing solutions has had a powerful influence on our outreach”.

Downs Designs Dreams also donates black and khaki dress pants, which they have added to the program, as jeans are not always the appropriate attire for all occasions.  The new additions will provide veterans dressing solutions for the workplace and more formal social events.

For those who would like to help, donations are welcome and will be collectively used to donate jeans to our veterans on a weekly basis, or can be used to donate to various veterans’ groups or programs. Donations supporting any VA Medical Centers are also welcome.

Here’s just one story:
Betty writes: “I would like to see my brother, Harry, in a pair of jeans that look like real blue jeans. He is a vet from the Viet Nam war. He is now blessed with Agent Orange, has repertory problems, walks with a walker and his hands are deformed, etc. He is homebound unless we take him to the V.A. for testing. He would like a pair of blue jeans for such outings. So hard to find them in the stores with mock fly and elastic pull up waist.”.

We thank you, Harry, for your service!

Share your story or donate here:
https://downsdesigns.wpengine.com/support-a-veteran/

For more information, veterans groups or clinics looking for assistance, or to schedule an interview, please contact:
William Herron – Marketing/ Veteran Program Coordinator , Downs Designs Dreams | Email: [email protected] Cell: (440) 954-1675 | Office: (877) 390-4851 |
Website: www.downsdesigns.wpengine.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/downsdesigns

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If you have been here before,you’ll notice that the shopping section is gone.  All of the Downs Designs (Dreams) products are now sold by NBZ Apparel.

If you have any additional questions about us, please call or contact us today!

Thanks for Stopping By.

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Ashley writes:  “My son is autistic and has the most sensory problems when it comes to his jeans, He has trouble with the buttons and zippers, also the bottoms have to be touching his shoes. We bought him several pairs with no luck. He’s 7 and keeps growing! Now wears an eight in jeans. We spend most of our time in the morning trying on jeans, tried on four pairs today and were almost late to the bus. I love him so much and just want him to be comfortable both in school and at home”.

How would a pair of our jeans make a difference in his life?  “Would help so much in school and in P.E. I think it would help him concentrate more”.

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Laurie writes:  “Tyler, my sweet son, is at that age where he’s rebelling against us a bit because he so desperately wants to lead his own life and be his own person. He has been through quite a bit; moving from Texas to Florida and having to find a new social circle, graduating from high school and having to start a new social Circle again, he lost his job, his grandmother (whom he spoke with every day and absolutely adored) passed away several months ago, and just this week experienced Hurricane Irma!”

How would a pair of our jeans make a difference in his life?  “I would love to see the pride on his face when he put on a pair of jeans that actually fit! Jeans that make him proud to have Downs, that he knows he looks sharp wearing! He’s pretty down on himself and a new pair of jeans THAT FIT might help him feel better about himself.

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