fashion show Archives - Penn-Mar

Four Years of Fashion Inclusivity: Penn-Mar Human Services and Jemicy School Disability-Inclusive Fashion Show Returns for 4th Year

ggorham — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:44:47 +0000

– “70’s Chic” Will Be the Theme of This Year’s Annual Event Now Open to the Public –

Baltimore – Penn-Mar Human Services, the region’s leading provider of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), will welcome family, friends, and, for the first time, the general public to the fourth-annual Penn-Mar and Jemicy School Inclusive Fashion Show, on April 10, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the Jemicy School, located at 11202 Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills.

This year’s fashion theme will transport guests back to the age of rhinestone cowboys with a focus on “70’s chic” fashions created by several Jemicy students, designed specifically for the unique needs of 18 people supported by Penn-Mar, who will also model the clothing in the runway show.

Since the event’s beginning in 2022, Jemicy students have been creating original clothing pieces tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each Penn-Mar model, prioritizing both comfort and ease of use. During the runway show, models will highlight the accessible aspects of the student’s designs, all of which blend functionality with style. For many people with an IDD, the simple act of getting dressed can be a daily hurdle. By incorporating magnetic closures, sensory-friendly fabrics, and seated-cut silhouettes, these student designers are providing more than just clothing—they are providing dignity and autonomy.

“This show continues to be a celebration of inclusivity and creativity, showcasing how fashion can be for everyone,” says Penn-Mar Human Services’ CEO Greg Miller. “The designs created by the talented students at Jemicy School highlight the power of design to bring both confidence and comfort to the people we support. This event proves that fashion can be both functional and beautiful for all, while teaching the next generation of creators that true innovation begins with empathy.”

Jemicy School is a Maryland-based, college preparatory independent school that has been educating students ages 5-18 with dyslexia or related language-based learning differences for over 50 years. The school tailors its approach to fit the unique learning styles of each student, much like the way individuals with IDD navigate and adapt to daily life. Similarly, Penn-Mar empowers individuals to reach their personal goals and thrive in a world that often overlooks the need for inclusive solutions that address their specific needs.

The press is encouraged to attend the fashion show, but if they are unable to come to the runway event itself, the runway show will also be streamed live on Penn-Mar’s Facebook page.

The press is encouraged to attend but must RSVP by contacting Roger Mecca: roger@vitaminisgood.com. Photos and video of the event will also be made available.

About Penn-Mar Human Services
Penn-Mar Human Services is a nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to Live Courageously, whether that’s securing a job, being an active member of their community, building independence, or developing new relationships. Penn-Mar accomplishes this by supporting people on their own unique personal journeys. Founded in 1981, Penn-Mar operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. They support over 400 adults with disabilities daily through an array of customizable services. www.penn-mar.org.

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From a Film Festival Debut to “Rhinestone Chic” Runway Designs

ggorham — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:03:04 +0000

The Jemicy School and Penn-Mar continue their Fashion Show collaboration.

A Jemicy student designer and a Penn-Mar model pose together.

Last October, students from The Jemicy School in Owings Mills traveled to New York for the debut of their documentary, “Fashion with a Purpose,” at the largest annual high school film festival, All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF).

The documentary, produced by Jemicy’s film department, highlighted inclusion through the unique perspectives of students with language-based learning differences. It follows Penn-Mar models with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as they share their clothing preferences, are fitted for adaptive clothing, then step onto the runway alongside the Jemicy students who helped create those designs.

Five Penn-Mar models featured in the film were even able to visit New York City for the very first time to attend the documentary screening. They traveled with Jennifer Hisey, Penn-Mar’s Community Supports Day Program Manager, and three other Penn-Mar team members.

The trip started off smoothly, but an unexpected turn changed everything.

“Unfortunately, we missed almost the entire screening because protests in Times Square caused street closures. Although we arrived in the city on time and could see the parking garage ahead, it took us nearly two hours to park the van,” Jennifer said.

Because of the delays, the Penn-Mar models made it into the theater with only minutes to spare.

They thought they had missed everything, but little did they know, they arrived at the perfect time. The music in the film shifted just as they entered the theater. On screen, Penn-Mar models were walking with confidence in adaptive designs tailored to their needs. At that exact same time in real life, those very same models walked down the aisle of the theater.

A Penn-Mar model stands while Jemicy designers take measurements on her outfit.

As the models made their way to their seats, a quiet rumble moved through the audience. One of the models looked up at the screen and called out, “That’s me!”

“It was so impactful,” said August DiMucci, Jemicy art teacher, who attended alongside the student filmmakers. “That’s when it hit all of us. It just hit all of our hearts and made us teary-eyed.”

After the screening, the groups reconnected downstairs. There were hugs, photos, and a lot of catching up. For some, it had been more than a year since they had last seen one another.

“The loving reaction from the students was an amazing moment for the people we support,” said Jennifer. “The ones who saw themselves on the big screen were so excited. They felt like movie stars! It was a beautiful moment for all of us and one that we would have missed had we arrived on time as planned.”

This year’s annual Penn-Mar x Jemicy Inclusive Fashion Show is coming up quickly. It’s scheduled for April 10 at the Jemicy Upper School Auditorium, where 14 Penn-Mar models will be walking the runway in personalized adaptive clothing styled by 12 amazingly talented Jemicy School fashion designers.

The 2026 collection embraces the theme “rhinestone chic,” reflecting many models’ interest in Western-style clothing. The lineup will feature rhinestone accents, floral prints, fringed jackets, cowboy hats and belts, and lots of recycled denim donated by the Jemicy community.

New this year – the Fashion Show is open to the public as a free event. If you can’t attend in person, the show will also be live streamed on Penn-Mar’s Facebook Live. We can’t wait to see you there, whether that’s in-person or digitally!

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Fashion Forward: Jemicy School Designers Showcase Inclusive Styles for Penn-Mar Models

ggorham — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:44:39 +0000

A Penn-Mar model demonstrates the “loungewear-esq” style of the 2025 Fashion Show as she walks with Leila Chan-Sweenie. Photo courtesy of Jemicy School.

Trending at the 3rd Annual Inclusive Fashion Show held April 11th at The Jemicy School in Owings Mills, MD were soft fabrics with a “loungewear-esq” vibe, according to Tina Chan Sweenie, Associate Director of Development at Penn-Mar Human Services and one of the program’s organizers.

The unique event paired 12 design students from Jemicy, which specializes in education for students with dyslexia and other language-based differences, with 18 people that Penn-Mar supports with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The show was an incredible display of style and innovation, embracing inclusion and adaptive fashion.

The student designers were tasked with creating adaptable and accessible clothing concepts that would meet the specific physical needs and style preferences of their eager models.

Students took measurements and conducted personal interviews with their Penn-Mar models back in January to explore any difficulties they might be having with traditional clothing. They were challenged to work around leg braces, consider wheelchair restrictions, rethink fastening devices, all the while combining comfort with personal style.

A Penn-Mar model shows just how soft and stretchy this year’s outfits were as he strikes a pose at the end of the runway. Photo courtesy of Jemicy School.

“Brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Target, and JCPenney offer limited lines of adaptive clothing, but there is still a lot of room to grow,” said Tina. The Jemicy students had four months to strategically and thoughtfully incorporate adaptable elements before sending their models down the runway in their functional, stylish, and custom-designed looks.

This year most folks expressed a preference for a soft fabric feel, inside and out, which helped to address a lot of the sensory challenges people with disabilities sometimes experience. Stretchy materials made it easier to slip outfits overhead, and fasteners such as magnets, large plastic zippers, and Velcro empowered people to dress with less assistance.

Examples of innovative styling from the Fashion Show collaboration abound.

At the first Fashion Show event in 2023, a student used creative problem-solving to design a wrinkle-free suit for a model who utilized a wheelchair by selecting a thick, spongy Neoprene fabric that provided extra padding and a more comfortable fit.

Mary Dotson modeled in last year’s Fashion Show, fulfilling a life-long dream to be part of such a magical event. She used an oxygen reservoir bag that was connected to her nostrils, so her clever design student created an outfit with a matching bag that doubled as a purse for the oxygen bag. Sadly, Mary passed away since then and the organizers fittingly dedicated this year’s Fashion Show in her memory.

A Penn-Mar model shows off the bow on her dress as a Jemicy student helps her with the finishing touches on her makeup.

Tina’s daughter Leila, a senior at The Jemicy School, enlisted her mother’s help backstage, fastening a belt with a bow to her model’s dress. Tina was impressed by how effortlessly the Velcro held everything in place, keeping the belt secure and the bow perfectly positioned. Another simple, but effective example of adaptive styling.

In an interview with WBAL TV-11News, Pauline Savage, The Jemicy School’s Visual Arts Department Chair, described the deeper motivation of her design students for this project. “When they make clothes for people who need and wear them, all of the sudden there’s a level of meaning and purpose that goes beyond just making clothes for themselves.”

Tina has noticed that over the years, many of the Penn-Mar models continued to wear their custom clothes long after the show. “The entire experience has helped them articulate the styles they love most and elevate their own personal style. Now, rather than settling for clothes that simply met the basics, they’re exploring options that better reflect their personal style and comfort.”

“These designers are our future,” stated Tina. “They will take this experience with them wherever they land. It is a wonderful way to acquire knowledge about adaptive fashion, about the dignity and independence of people with disabilities, and their need to be able to express themselves through fashion without having to go through hurdles when dressing each morning. The exercise was not just about fashion.”

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Penn-Mar Human Services’ Disability-Inclusive Fashion Show Returns

nvenn — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:32:31 +0000

- Partnership with Jemicy School Continues, Presenting Clothing Designed Specifically for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities -

March 13, 2024

Baltimore – Penn-Mar Human Services, the region’s leading provider of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is proud to present the return of the Jemicy x Penn-Mar inclusive fashion show. The annual event features 17 people supported by Penn-Mar who will model original clothing designs created by students from Jemicy School, a Maryland-based independent school that educates students ages 5-18 with dyslexia or related language-based learning differences.

The show will take place on March 22, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the runway portion starting at 5:40 p.m. at the Jemicy School, located at 11202 Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills. Though the event is closed to the public, it will be livestreamed on Penn-Mar’s Facebook page, and members of the press are encouraged to attend. The press can also arrange to attend a dress rehearsal at Jemicy on March 20 at 10 a.m. with the runway portion taking place at 11 a.m.

As with the inaugural event in 2023, Jemicy students have crafted original clothing articles tailored to the specific needs of Penn-Mar models, ensuring ease of wear and comfort. Designs feature slip-on styles, stretchy materials, and accessible closures like large zippers, magnets, or ties. At the show, the models will walk the runway, showcasing the inclusive nature of fashion through Jemicy student designs that are both functional and of course, fashionable.

Penn-Mar CEO Greg Miller says the original event was such a hit that it was especially thrilling the show returned this year.

“The excitement we saw from the models last year, and the relationships they created with the designers, made it one of the most rewarding events we’ve done,” adds Miller. “Penn-Mar’s mission revolves around prioritizing inclusion for the IDD community, and fashion should be no exception. This event empowers the people we support to celebrate their identities with clothing designed to accommodate and celebrate their uniqueness, rather than conforming to industry standards.”

The idea behind the fashion show began five years ago when Jennifer Hisey, Penn-Mar’s community supports day program manager, discussed a fashion show with people who attend Penn-Mar’s day learning center. While they loved the idea, the pandemic soon halted any plans.

But in April 2022, Tina Chan Sweenie, Penn-Mar’s associate director of development, attended a fashion show at Jemicy where her daughter, Leila, showcased her work as a featured student designer. Recognizing a shared interest in hosting a fashion event at Penn-Mar, Chan Sweenie and her daughter collaborated with Hisey to propose a joint effort between Jemicy and Penn-Mar.

The Penn-Mar team contacted Leila’s teacher Pauline Savage, Jemicy’s college counselor for the arts and chair of Jemicy’s US visual arts department. Upon hearing the proposal, Pauline recognized the opportunity for her fashion students to showcase their talent and creativity, and the show was off and running.

“My students are brilliant visual spatial thinkers, ingenious when it comes to problem solving,” says Pauline. “They have a talent for making unusual connections that allow them to see opportunities that many people cannot, and they shine brightest when engaged in real-world design opportunities.”

For more than 50 years, Jemicy has dedicated itself to educating children with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences while celebrating neurodiversity. Jemicy students embrace unique learning approaches tailored to their individuality, similar to the way individuals with IDD must navigate daily life. And like Jemicy, Penn-Mar empowers individuals to pursue personal goals and thrive in a world often lacking inclusivity that speaks to their needs.

The press is encouraged to attend but must RSVP by contacting Roger Mecca: roger@vitaminisgood.com. Photos and video of the event will also be made available.

About Penn-Mar Human Services

Penn-Mar Human Services is a nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to Live Courageously, whether that’s securing a job, being an active member of their community, building independence, or developing new relationships. Penn-Mar accomplishes this by supporting people on their own unique personal journeys. Founded in 1981, Penn-Mar operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. They support 400+ adults with disabilities daily through an array of customizable services. www.penn-mar.org.

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A Fashionable Two-Way Exchange of Positivity and Camaraderie

nvenn — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:25:19 +0000

It all started back in 2019 when Jennifer Hisey, Community Supports Day Program Manager at Penn-Mar Central, was looking to “mix things up” for her day program activities.

Her initial thought was to organize an informal Fashion Show with the people Penn-Mar supports modeling clothing and accessories picked up at Goodwill.

But then along came COVID, just one week before show time.

Fast-forward two years later and the Fashion Show idea was resurrected again. Tina Chan Sweenie, Penn-Mar‘s Associate Director of Development, Volunteer and Donor Relations, mentioned to Jennifer in passing that her daughter Leila had a Fashion Show event at her school.

The Jemicy School in Owings Mill, MD, where Leila attends, is an independent school for grades 1-12 that has been educating students with dyslexia or related language-based learning differences for 50 years. It was the beginning of an amazing collaboration that eventually found its way to the Runway during a May 19 livestreamed event staged at Penn-Mar’s Central location in Freeland, MD.

Penn-Mar team members are always searching for ways to create person-centered events that will give the people they support exposure, education, and experience. Jennifer saw the Fashion Show as “the perfect opportunity to give our people a taste of the fashion world, to interact with people outside of the Penn-Mar community and give them a chance to shine where all eyes would be on them for a positive reason.”

Jemicy students with their designs they created for the fashion show.

So earlier this year, 18 fashion design students from Jemicy made their way to Penn-Mar to meet their 26 future models and complete questionnaires about their fashion preferences and the challenges they were experiencing with traditional clothing. Measurements were taken and storyboards created to lock in on the custom fashions the students would be creating.

In the meantime, Jemicy’s students in a video class were filming everything behind-the-scenes.

“It was a gem of a project,” said Leslie Furlong, who teaches videography and photography there. “Our students were completely invested in the work. It went way beyond doing homework for themselves. They were doing something for someone else. They felt connected and they were determined to get it right!”

Pauline Savage, US Visual Arts Department Chair and College Counselor for the Arts at the Jemicy School, described how her students were focused on the one-way experience of making something for someone. But in the end, it was “a two-way exchange of positivity and camaraderie.”

All of the Jemicy students were new to fashion design and were motivated by the acceptance and encouragement the clients at Penn-Mar gave them.

“The Penn-Mar folks were so tolerant,” remembers Pauline. “They made the students feel good about the process and recognized that they were taking the risk of sharing their designs publicly. When you are a teenager, if you put extra effort into writing a good paper that’s a private victory,” she explained. “But this was a beautiful public victory that affirmed their hard work.”

For Tina the experience became a real-time education piece on inclusivity “With all the smiles and hugs following the show, it was apparent that the people who we support felt seen and heard,” she said. “You really saw their personalities come through that day. They showed confidence, excitement, love of self and the whole experience.”

On the big day, nearly 40 people attended the Fashion Show in person including leadership from Penn-Mar and Jemicy. Family and friends were able to view the livestream on Facebook.

Jennifer summed up the effort by saying, “We gave the people we support an experience they won’t soon forget and it hopefully will open the door for more meaningful collaborations with businesses and schools in the future.”

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Penn-Mar Human Services Partners With Jemicy School For Inclusive Fashion Show

nvenn — Fri, 12 May 2023 20:19:44 +0000

- People Supported by Penn-Mar to Model Clothing Designed Specifically For Their Disabilities -

May 11, 2023

Baltimore – Penn-Mar Human Services, the region’s leading provider of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), will host its first-ever inclusive fashion show, featuring people that are supported by Penn-Mar, who will model original clothing designs created by 18 students from Jemicy School, a Maryland-based independent school that educates elementary, middle, and high school students with dyslexia or related language-based learning differences.

The show will take place on May 19, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Penn-Mar’s Day Learning Center at 310 Old Freeland Road in Freeland, Md. Though the event is closed to the general public, it will be livestreamed on Facebook and recorded for rebroadcast. Invited guests and members of the press are encouraged to attend.

The Jemicy students have created 20 original articles of clothing that are conducive with, and favorable to, the specific developmental and/or intellectual disabilities of people that Penn-Mar supports. Where appropriate, clothing will be designed to slip overhead easily, utilize stretchy materials with minimal seams, and rely on large zippers, magnets, or ties to secure. Then for the show, several people supported by Penn-Mar will “hit the catwalk” and model the Jemicy student’s unique designs, highlighting how fashion can, and should be, inclusive for everyone.

“Everything Penn-Mar does is centered around a commitment to inclusion and equity for the IDD community- so why should fashion be any different?” says Penn-Mar CEO Greg Miller. “This project gives the people we support a chance to embrace their disabilities with clothing that works with them and supports who they are as individuals, rather than having to conform and adapt to what’s being offered by the clothing industry.”

Miller adds that while there are no formal plans to make the show a recurring event, both teams have expressed interest in doing it again.

The first inkling for the event began in 2019 as a natural extension of Penn-Mar’s person-centered approach to support. Jennifer Hisey, Penn-Mar’s community supports day program manager, discussed having a fashion show with people who attend Penn-Mar’s day learning center. They loved the idea, but then the pandemic halted any plans.

Then, in April 2022, Tina Chan Sweenie, Penn-Mar’s associate director of development, attended a fashion show at Jemicy where her daughter, Leila, was a featured student designer. Realizing that there was already interest in holding a fashion show at Penn-Mar, Tina and Leila approached Jennifer about a collaborative effort between Jemicy and Penn-Mar. Jennifer loved the idea and soon after, the Penn-Mar team contacted Pauline Savage, Leila’s teacher and Jemicy’s US visual arts department chair and college counselor for the arts. Upon hearing the proposal, Pauline knew it was a terrific opportunity for her fashion students to fully express their talent and creativity.

She adds that the partnership with Jemicy is especially appropriate, given the school’s commitment to inclusion and finding ways to overcome learning obstacles for neurodivergent and dyslexic children for the past 50 years. Jemicy students have unique methods to learning, based on who they are as individuals, which is not dissimilar for someone with an IDD and how they approach and adapt to daily living. In fact, for 42 years, Penn-Mar has been helping people with an IDD achieve their own personal goals and find success in a world that is very often not inclusive of their needs.

In addition to the fashion show, eight Jemicy film students will be recording the entire show for a future documentary.

The press is encouraged to attend but must RSVP by contacting Roger Mecca: roger@vitaminisgood.com. Photos and video of the event will also be made available.

About Penn-Mar Human Services

Penn-Mar Human Services is a nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to Live Courageously, whether that’s securing a job, being an active member of their community, building independence, or developing new relationships. Penn-Mar accomplishes this by supporting people on their own unique personal journeys. Founded in 1981, Penn-Mar operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. They support 500+ adults with disabilities daily through an array of customizable services.

www.penn-mar.org.

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Jemicy Students Collaborating with Penn-Mar on Unique Fashion Show Event

nvenn — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 14:42:46 +0000

By Pauline Savage, US Visual Arts Department Chair, College Counselor for the Arts | Jemicy School

I teach fashion design at the Jemicy School in Owings Mill, MD, a school that educates students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences. My students are brilliant visual spatial thinkers, ingenious when it comes to problem solving. They have a talent for making unusual connections that allows them to see opportunities that many people cannot.

Just prior to the pandemic, Tina Chan Sweenie, Penn-Mar‘s Associate Director of Development, Volunteer and Donor Relations — whose daughter Leila is one of our students — told me that Penn-Mar was planning to organize a Fashion Show for the people it supports. Would our students be interested in designing clothes for them?

My immediate response was “we can totally do this!” The Jemicy community is built on a foundation of inclusion. We honor and celebrate neurodiversity. Our gifted young creatives shine brightest when they engage in real-world design opportunities.

Luckily, we have two very large fashion design classes with 18 students. Their goal is to have all of their original fashions ready for a May 19 live streamed event staged at Penn-Mar’s Central location.

In the midst of all this planning, I shared our assignment with Jemicy’s videography teacher when she realized that this would be a perfect storyline for her students’ documentary project.

What could be better than documenting their peers meeting with their clients about their fashion preferences, following them through the creative process and final fittings, and watching them on the sidelines cheering on their models during the Show?

This is yet another example of what is so exciting and special about Jemicy that we as teachers have the flexibility to expose our kids to real work.

As I write this, our students have completed their measurements and created storyboards with a picture of each Penn-Mar model that includes their goals, style and clothing preferences and colorful images of fashion examples and material swatches to inspire their work.

Twenty original designs are now in work that address each person’s sensory issues. Where appropriate, clothing is designed to slip overhead easily, utilizes stretchy materials with minimal seams, and relies on large zippers, magnets or ties to secure.

During the measurement and subsequent design sessions, Cindy from Penn-Mar expressed a need to feel good and comfortable in a dress that is easy to put on. She prefers rainbow colors, a drawstring waist and pockets.

Daryl was very specific about wanting a “cho-cho train bucket hat;” Laura asked for a pink purse; and Gene was looking for a dragon shirt and belt.

Nick preferred a slim fit gold shirt with sequins, swirls and fancy buttons paired with black pants and gold-lined cuffs with additional sequins.

Derek asked for a dark colored jogging pant that would be loose enough to accommodate his leg braces and made with a “Velcro-friendly fabric.”

Julia noted that she was allergic to cashmere but would be comfortable in a royal blue off-the-shoulder wool dress with straps.

These are just a few examples of the unique collaboration between our designers and Penn-Mar’s models that are allowing our students to work with purpose. I can assure you that they have a lot of joy in their hearts while they are completing their assignment, not something you usually hear about with high school-age teenagers!

We are so grateful to Tina Chan Sweenie for approaching us with this idea and to her daughter Leila who is a leader in this inclusive Fashion Show initiative. Our Jemicy creatives are thrilled to share smiles, creative vision, and most importantly, a fun experience with the wonderful people at Penn-Mar.

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