Testimonials
Caitlyn SweeneY, School to Work Coordinator | West-Windsor Plainsboro HS North:
As a special educator deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and diversity within my teaching practice, I cannot express enough support for Inspired Threads and their mission. In my current role as a School to Work Coordinator, I am responsible for securing job sampling experience for students with disabilities. I reached out to Jeanene because I recognized a gap in the opportunities available to my students, particularly in creative careers. Inspired Threads is filling this void by providing a platform for people with disabilities to explore their passions and support themselves with a career they truly enjoy.
Without hesitation, Jeanene invited my students and I to an event they were hosting for their staff and the local community. At the event, my students had the privilege of meeting and learning from the disabled fashion designer, Qaysean Williams. This event was not just an educational opportunity; it was a moment of profound inspiration and empowerment for my students. Through Inspired Threads’ thoughtful curation of the event, my students were exposed to a world of possibilities previously beyond their imagination. They engaged in meaningful discussions about accessibility, representation, and the importance of inclusivity in the design community. The impact of this experience on my students' outlooks cannot be overstated. The event even connected one of my students to an opportunity to work with Qaysean on a project where he designed a custom dress for her. Inspired Threads’ commitment to fostering connections, promoting inclusivity, and empowering the next generation of creators is truly commendable.
Jon Grasso, Special Education Teacher | Monroe Twp HS:
My name is Jon Grasso I am a special education teacher at Monroe Township High School. I teach a vocational program with 18–21-year-old students with special needs. We have had an incredible relationship with Inspired Threads for about 5 years now. Our partnership has been extremely valuable to myself and my students. The employees of Inspired Threads all have special needs just like my students. They serve as role models for my students. Going back to 2020 we met every Wednesday morning to discuss the students’ goals and dreams. These sessions included employees from inspired threads who mentored my students and gave them real life examples of what employment could look like after high school. Jeanene would also teach the students about the importance of recycling and how to help protect the earth. Inspired Threads gave us an opportunity to assist them and sort some of their fabric. We sorted their fabric by color, while all schools were virtual my students were still getting hands on real life vocational skills thanks to inspired threads.
Now that Inspired Threads has a physical location we have traveled down to visit several times. Inspired threads has done several workshops for us to attend. We made valentines day cards out of recycled wall paper, projects with recycled fabric and wildflower seeds, and environmental protection. We are going to visit again later in April for another workshop where we will create vision boards for my students. We are very excited and thankful that Inspired Threads does all these workshops for us. Jeanene is an incredible woman who has done so much for my students and I am very appreciate of her and Inspired Threads. Inspired Threads is an incredible organization who does a great job serving community members who unfortunately aren’t prioritized in many other vocational settings. Thank you.