Runway of Dreams: Livingston Nonprofit Featured on 'The View'

If you’re a fan of the nationally-syndicated television program, “The View,” you may have seen Friday’s segment which featured Livingston-based nonprofit, “Runway of Dreams.”

If so, you learned an important lesson… Appearances do matter sometimes.

The segment featured a fashion show, where “differently-abled” kids and teens modeled adaptive version of popular clothing designs, and marked the launch of the nonprofit’s IndieGoGo campaign, which can be accessed here.

According to a release, Runway of Dreams aims to collaborate with the fashion industry to adapt mainstream clothing lines with wearable technology for differently-abled children and teens.

Mindy Scheier, the nonprofit’s founder, explained that her son, Oliver, was her main inspiration.

Born with rigid spine muscular dystrophy – one of just 70 cases in the world – Oliver faces significant challenges getting dressed and is limited in what he can wear. As Oliver neared his pre-teens, Scheier realized that despite his physical differences, her son wanted to “be like everyone else.”

“The right clothes can make a big difference,” Scheier emphasized.

Innovations highlighted during the segment included:

• Magnetic closures to accommodate children/teens with limited muscle strength, leg braces and missing limbs
• Adjustable pant lengths for wheelchair-bound individuals
• Shirred pant legs and sleeves for children/teens with shorter limbs

Photo caption: Mary McNany, a Livingston seventh-grader, rocks the runway during an episode of The View, featuring local nonprofit, Runway of Dreams.

Send Livingston news tips and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com