Cora Slocum, a four-year-old with Down syndrome, is featured in footwear brand Livie & Luca’s Fall 2015 back to school advertising push.
The young girl was recruited along with other children from the Bay Area, for #ImGoingBackToSchoolToo, a campaign that urges inclusiveness for young people with disabilities.
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The California-based shoe company partnered with Changing the Face of Beauty, a nonprofit that fights for equal representation of people with disabilities in advertising and media.
“Back to school is such a critical time for kids, and it is important to Changing the Face of Beauty that companies see the 13% of kids that happen to be going back to school with a disability,” Katie Driscoll, president and founder of Changing the Face of Beauty, explains to Mashable.
Today in the office: Livie & Luca model, Cora, being interviewed by @abcnews about our #imgoingbacktoschooltoo campaign. #changingthefaceofbeauty A photo posted by Livie & Luca (@livieandluca) on Aug 12, 2015 at 1:23pm PDT
Let's show our children that all people are beautiful! Donate to the #changingthefaceofbeauty fundraiser at livieandluca.com and we will match $1 for $1. #imgoingbacktoschooltoo A photo posted by Livie & Luca (@livieandluca) on Jul 29, 2015 at 10:44am PDT
The organization says it has helped over 100 companies change their advertising and recently was asked to provide 10 girls for a ED x GAP runway next week.
“If by having her picture out there kind of changes people’s minds and perceptions and stereotypes, then I think that’s a good move in the right direction,” Kerri Slocum, Cora’s mother, tells ABC News.
And Cora had fun, to boot.
“During the photoshoot, you could tell Cora was born to shine in front of the camera ... Her contagious joy filled the room,” Brittany Suzuki, Livie & Luca brand director, says in a press release.
Others have joined in Livie & Luca's campaign using the hashtag to post their own back to school photos.
Lucas is going back to school #imgoingbacktoschooltoo A photo posted by @lizette555 on Jul 22, 2015 at 2:27pm PDT
She suddenly looks and acts so much older! 1st grade is days away!!! #imgoingbacktoschooltoo #matildajaneclothing A photo posted by Jennifer Varanini Sanchez (@jvaraninisanchez) on Aug 13, 2015 at 3:19pm PDT
#imGoingBackToSchoolToo #firstDayOfSchool 2015 A photo posted by Diane Grover (@diane_grover) on Aug 13, 2015 at 1:33pm PDT
Livie & Luca is matching any donations made to Changing the Face of Beauty on its website.