New Jersey fashion show celebrates people with disabilities, Hispanic heritage

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (PIX11) – Dozens of people with disabilities proudly strutted their stuff at a runway show at Montclair State University on Saturday.

Samuel Ojeda, 19, was one of them.

“I feel great because I’m happy to see everyone here. My friends and parents,” he said.

The event was hosted by the organization Passaic County Parents of Adults with Disabilities. In addition to celebrating the nonprofit’s sixth anniversary, it also marked Hispanic Heritage Month.

Many of the participants showed off their culture during the show.

“We wanted to do something different, so using Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to highlight not just the country they represent but also what they like to do,” said Veronica Amati, a board member with PACOPAD. Her son has autism.

She said the group was created as a way to provide parents of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities with resources.

“What we do is gather information and share the information with other families and parents so they can take advantage of what is available for the benefit of their kids,” Amati said.

The group is also a place for the the kids to find support, she said.

“We do a lot of recreational events to allow the kids to socialize in a safe space so they don’t feel judgement from anyone,” Amati said. “It’s important for the kids because we try to find activities they can follow that will lead them to the path when we’re not here.”

There is a need for more resources for families in Passaic County, she said.

“We want housing, we want education, we want activities,” Amati said.

To find out more information on PACOPAD, click here .

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