Warning: This episode contains scenes of hope, determination, and glamour. Listener attention is advised. This episode looks at something most people take for granted: getting dressed. Buttons, ties, laces, zippers... we slip into clothes every day, to express ourselves, based on our mood or needs of the day, and we don't think about it as we do. But for millions of people, getting dressed in the morning can be a painful challenge, one that in some cases even requires someone to help put clothes on. This spring, Arthritis Society Canada held a very special event to bring awareness to the disease; the broad swath of the population affected by it; and the challenges people with arthritis face daily in doing normal things - like getting dressed. Canadian designers and retailers turned up to turn out some remarkable accessible fashion - all worn by people who have or are affected by arthritis. It was a moving, inspiring night, and this episode you'll go to the show, and meet some of the players: designer David Dixon, Arthritis Society of Canada CEO Trish Barbato, and Steff DiPardo, one of the fashion models, who suffers from a very severe form of arthritis that affects her spine. We hope this episode inspires you to see fashion in a new light – to see the possibilities that exist so that everyone one of us can participate with ease - and to recognize the power of gatherings like Fashion & Fire in shaping a more inclusive world.
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* What is an episodic disability? Be sure to listen to Episode 1, where we give a quick crash course, plus hear the moving story of Sandy, who suffers from the episodic disabilities of suicide ideation and treatment-resistant depression. (Listener discretion advised.)