U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) aided in securing a $35,000 federal grant for a Great Neck-based company that provides clothing to people with disabilities.
Suozzi announced on Thursday that the grant money will come from the National Endowment for the Arts and be provided to Open Style Lab. The non-for-profit organization was founded in 2014 and provides fashionable, stylish and form-fitting clothing for people of all abilities, according to its website.
“As a Nassau County, New York native, I am honored by the recognition from the NEA for Open Style Lab’s 2021 project,” Open Style Lab CEO Grace Jun said. “We look forward to working with the Arts Endowment to finalize the grant paperwork and appreciate the agency’s support for this project.”
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency established in 1965. The funding provided by the agency allows people and organizations across the country to participate in the arts, enhance their creativeness in their professions and prioritize equitable access to the arts.
The federal agency provides funds for nonprofit organizations on a project-specific basis, with awards typically ranging from $10,000-$100,000, according to federal data.
“Design and accessibility have typically been overlooked for people with disabilities,” Suozzi said. “Every person has the right to dress in clothing that makes them feel good about themselves.”
“I truly believe design can elevate people during disempowering moments,” Jun said. “Making style accessible to all people, regardless of cognitive and physical disability, has been our mission since 2015.”
Open Style Lab will use the federal funds to enhance its online presence to provide people with online lectures along with a more comprehensive video library to help people design their own fashion to coincide with their own specific challenges.
“Open Style Lab continues to make tremendous strides for people in the disability community by designing clothing that is inclusive, stylish and functional,” Suozzi said. “I’m proud to see the National Endowment of the Arts award this grant to Open Style Lab.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four, or roughly 61 million adults throughout the United States, suffer from a disability that impacts “major life activities.”
