Mason girl wins contest to design special adaptive clothing
MASON, Ohio (WKRC) - A Mason first-grade student won a national competition to have her own designs featured on a clothing line.
Josephine Sloan can add winner of a national design contest to her list of achievements.
"She's been hiking, she's been water skiing, she's been rock climbing. We just join in all of that stuff, just to you know, make memories with her and let her experience things," said Jennifer Sloan, Josephine's mother.
The seven-year-old was diagnosed with myotonic muscular dystrophy shortly after birth. Later, she got another diagnosis - CDKL5. It's a rare, neurodevelopmental condition. She is the only person in the world diagnosed with both of these conditions at the same time.
Josephine loves art. She uses a special glove that helps her draw.
Jennifer helped her create designs to enter into a design contest on social media called Ellie's Project through the kids' clothing company Seven Pines.
The project is in its first year. It's named for the daughter of the company's creator who was born with Down syndrome. The project's goal is to raise awareness for children with disabilities or childhood diseases.
Josephine's designs received the most likes on social media and were featured on both of the company's clothing lines, including an adaptive clothing line that has special features.
For example, there are special opening points for kids like Josephine who use a G-tube. The design is lime green which just so happens to be the color representing both myotonic muscular dystrophy and CDKL5.
"We made a lion with her handprint and the CDKL5, the mascot is a starfish, so we used her feet and made a starfish," says Sloan.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support the charities associated with Josephine's conditions.