Include Children with Disabilities in Advertising Campaigns, Changing the Face of Beauty

Fifty children smiled and posed for the camera last weekend at Belle Isle Casino in Detroit — but it was more than just a photo shoot.

article by Ann Zaniewski Education Writer, for Detroit Free Press  | April 27, 2016  
The kids were part of a campaign that advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in advertising, led by the nonprofit Changing the Face of Beauty.

The Chicago-based organization is launching a nationwide push to increase the availability of aspiring models with disabilities in local casting firms.

"Unfortunately, a lot of talent firms don’t have talent with disabilities on their books," said Katie Driscoll, founder and president of Changing the Face of Beauty. "This is something we need to change.

"The disability community is the largest minority in the world, yet they remain the least represented in our media and our advertising. Being that the media voice is so loud and influential in our world today, it's important that this large minority receive representation like everyone else."

Four local photographers — Jamie Oldenburg, Amanda Armitage, Devin Parrish and Sara Demick — photographed the children, most of whom were from metro Detroit.

Partnering with a Chicago-based salon, Changing the Face of Beauty will be hosting a second event in May that will provide 25 models (children and adults) with disabilities professional head shots that can be taken to casting firms to obtain representation for modeling opportunities.

For more information, visit www.changingthefaceofbeauty.org.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/04/26/special-needs-photo-shoot/83542096/