Dr. Danielle Sheypuk Joins DisABILITYincites as Newest Board Director

    NEW YORK, NY, July 16, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Clinical Psychologist Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, an advocate for people with disabilities, has been appointed to the DisABILITYincites (DI) Board of Directors.

Dr. Sheypuk, a New Yorker, is a licensed clinical psychologist, disability-rights advocate, media commentator and fashion model. On February 6, 2014, Dr. Sheypuk became the first woman in a wheelchair ever to 'walk' the runway at New York Fashion Week, sporting fashion-designer Carrie Hammer's signature newsprint skirt, among other designer fashions.

Founded as a research company in 2011, disABILITYincites is a 501(c)3 with a mission to eradicate the exclusion of people with disabilities from the on-going, comprehensive research investigations that are conducted daily in the US. Dr. Sheypuk joins other prominent leaders on the DI Board, including Mr. Don Gloeckler, disABILITYinicites Board President and former 33-year P&G veteran and Chief Research Officer at the Advertising Research Foundation. "We are thrilled to have Dr. Sheypuk a part of the DI board," says, Mr. Gloeckler. "Her insight and advice will bring so much value to our organization."

Following her Fashion Week debut, in an interview with The Guardian (UK), Dr. Sheypuk said, "I think it's very important for the spectrum of fashion designers, low- to high-end, to recognize their consumers with disabilities, and I don't think that any designer really does a good job at that. We are essentially never pitched to, and virtually ignored when it comes to fashion."

DisABILITYincites founder and Executive Director, Tonya Deniz, agrees. "People with disabilities are ignored by virtually every industry," she says, "in part because of a lack of research and information about the largest minority group in the US."

"There are 57 million adults in the US with disabilities," says Ms. Deniz, "and 23 million parents of children with disabilities. The segment has a discretionary income of $220 billion. Yet despite their size and the size of their pocketbooks, designers, inventors, and innovators rarely think to include people with disabilities when they are dreaming up the next invention or new idea."

"Many [people with disabilities] have successful careers, and we have money," says Dr. Sheypuk. "Like everyone else, we want to spend it in ways that make us look and feel good. Additionally we want to use it to empower ourselves to be the source of our own results."

Ms. Deniz echoes the sentiment and says, "When companies create with people with disabilities in mind, we all win. Companies create a new revenue stream and people with disabilities benefit by way of having greater access to those services and products that really enable them to enjoy greater independence."

Promoted as a landmark study, disABILITYincites has begun to field "Pathway to Greater Inclusion," the first comprehensive research study ever conducted about the attitudes, opinions, perceptions, consumptions and other behaviors of people with disabilities. "The launch of our inaugural study, together with Dr. Sheypuk joining the DI board," says Ms. Deniz, "marks a turning point in the evolution of disABILITYincites." Ms. Deniz adds, "Dr. Sheypuk's personal and professional experiences will help see our mission to fruition and advance our efforts in using research to level the playing field for people with disabilities."

About Dr. Danielle Sheypuk

Holding a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research in New York City, Dr. Danielle Sheypuk is widely regarded as a leading "sexpert" and commentator on the psychology of dating, relationships, and sexuality for the disabled population. She has established a successful and innovative private therapy practice that employs Skype-based treatment which she engineered specifically to make it easier for people with disabilities to attend sessions. Media appearances have included features The New York Daily News, Upworthy, Huffington Post, The Daily Mail (U.K.), WCBS Radio, SiriusXM Doctor Radio, WNBC's Weekend Today in NY, WNBC's New York Nightly News, ABC News, Yahoo!, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Elle Magazine among others. She is the official spokesperson for Models of Diversity America, the US affiliate of an organization of UK-based fashion/beauty activists.

Dr. Danielle Sheypuk is available for media interviews and speaking opportunities, regarding her expertise in psychiatric practice, the fashion industry and issues facing people with disabilities. Her representation is through Patrick A. Berzinski, Tranquility49 LLC, [email protected].

Tranquility49, the "communications boutique for the 21st century," is a broad-spectrum media-communications firm located in the heart of New York City.

For more information, please visit www.tranquility49.com.

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