Learning from Students
U.S. study of Disabled fashion student experiences
The voices of today’s Disabled fashion students have been foundational in crafting the vision and goals of the Parsons Disabled Fashion Student Program.
We interviewed 35 Disabled students enrolled in fashion programs across the United States to understand their experiences in fashion school and the ways it can be improved.
Results from this research will be used to develop practices that best support the incoming Disabled students in the program and at Parsons at large.
Image Description: 12 models, including 2 wheelchair users and a baby, wearing neon and holographic spandex clothing dance on a platform stage in Gallery 400 with graphic geometric shapes painted on the floor.
“Hopefully, somewhere along the line, my path will lead the way for someone else to follow in my footsteps and have a slightly easier time. Kind of the whole concept of ‘water can carve a path into rock.’”
“I think I can use my experiences, both positive and negative, as material evidence of a need.”
Centering Disability experiences and accessibility
Students shared with us the benefits that their disability experiences bring to their fashion work, the barriers they face in fashion school, and their dreams for the future of fashion education that is accessible and welcoming of the Disability experience.
Image Description: Aaron Rose Philip, a Black woman with small, waist-length braids smiling wide on the runway for Collina Strada in her power wheelchair. She is wearing wide leg ripped denim jeans, a white sheer bralette, and a tulle layered skirt with green and pink accents designed by Collina Strada. There are dried flowers jutting out of the frame of her chair.
Image Description: Sinéad, a white, Queer, physically Disabled woman with brown shoulder-length hair wearing a slate blue Gucci suit. A small red embroidered patch on the left sleeve reads "Gucci Sinéad Burke." To her left is a small end table with a brown leather Gucci handbag and a gold metal lamp.
Supporting disabled fashion students at Parsons
Results from this research will be used to develop practices that best support the incoming Disabled students in the program and at Parsons in general. We will also use the results to develop a framework and strategies to recruit, support, mentor and build community among Disabled fashion students at Parsons.
Supporting Disabled students at other fashion schools
Additionally, we will share these findings with other fashion schools with the intention of reshaping the foundation of fashion education by supporting the inclusion of Disabled fashion students in the US and around the world.
Image Description: Sinéad Burke on the cover of Business of Fashion in 2018. Sinéad, a white, Queer, physically Disabled woman with slicked back brown hair wears a custom Burberry trenchcoat that is haphazardly cut in the front above the knee. The back of the coat is
still attached. She is holding a pair of oversized open scissors.
We invite applications by March 15, 2025 for the Fall 2025 semester
Apply now for the Disabled Fashion Student Program.