Danielle Sheypuk

Last updated
Danielle Sheypuk
BornFebruary 28, 1978
Jermyn, PA
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Clinical Psychologist, Fashion Model, Activist
Years active1995-present
Known forMs. Wheelchair NY 2012, First Wheelchair-Using Model NYFW 2014

Danielle Ann Sheypuk (born February 28, 1978) is an American psychologist and advocate for disability rights. [1] Sheypuk is a self-described "sexpert" and leading commentator on the psychology of dating, relationships, and sexuality for the disabled population. [2]

Contents

Because she was wheelchair-reliant since childhood, Sheypuk has used her personal story in her advocacy work, aiming to break down stigmas and stereotypes of the disabled population. [3] [4] [5]

Early life and education

Sheypuk grew up in Jermyn, Pennsylvania, near Scranton. She was born with spinal muscular atrophy and got her first motorized wheelchair in kindergarten.

After graduating from Marywood University in Scranton with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology (2000), Sheypuk moved to New York City to pursue her Ph.D. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research.

Career

Sheypuk won the title of Ms. Wheelchair New York in 2012, receiving positive responses from social media followers and media outlets around the world. Following her win, Sheypuk continued to promote her platform of dating, relationships and sexuality in the disabled population. [6] [7] [8]

In February 2014, Sheypuk became the first model in a wheelchair to "walk" the runway at New York Fashion Week, generating worldwide buzz and positive press. [9] [10] [11]

Sheypuk was also featured in The Raw Beauty Project in 2014. [12] The project, developed by a partnership between mobileWOMEN.org and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, featured 20 women with disabilities to showcase their "beauty, passion and power." [13]

In May 2015, Sheypuk appeared in her first TEDx Talk, [14] which took place at Barnard College at Columbia University, presented by the Athena Center for Leadership Studies. Sheypuk discussed the changing culture of American sexuality, and the mainstreaming of people with disabilities as potential romantic and sexual partners in everyday life.

She is an in-house expert and columnist for SheKnows Magazine and serves as a fashion model for the Tomboy Shop Online Lookbook. [15]

Professional achievements

Sheypuk has established a private therapy practice that employs Skype-based treatment, which she engineered specifically to make it easier for people with disabilities to attend sessions. [16]

She is also a board member of the market-research advocacy firm disABILITYincites, [17] which is pursuing a major multi-sector study of the American disabled consumer.[ citation needed ]

Recognition

Dr. Sheypuk has been honored as an Outstanding Woman with a Physical Disability by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and featured in their Paralysis Resource Guide (Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, "Paralysis Resource Guide," Contributed under "Portraits," Fall/Winter 2013). She is also the recipient of The Women's Therapy Center Institute of NYC Award 2015, the Marywood University Alumni Award-Award of Excellence in Health and Human Services 2014 and served as the Ambassador for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation 2014. In 2016, she was honored as one of the "21 Leaders for the 21 Century," as recognized by Women's eNews in New York City.

Media and TV appearances

Sheypuk has appeared in features in the New York Daily News, [18] Upworthy, [19] HuffPost, [20] WCBS Radio, [21] SiriusXM Doctor Radio, WNBC's Weekend Today in NY, WNBC's New York Nightly News, [22] ABC News, [23] Yahoo!, [24] Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Elle Magazine. [25]

Publications

Sheypuk has authored columns for several disability magazines, including Quest (the national publication of the Muscular Dystrophy Association) (Quest Magazine of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, "From Where I Sit," March/April 2007), Directions (the national publication of the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association) (Directions Magazine of the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association, "Ms. Wheelchair New York: On the topic of dating, sex, and relationships," Spring 2013) and Women's eNews.

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References

  1. ↑ NewsHour. "A psychologist on 'making disability sexy'". PBS NewsHour. PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, Video Profile, "The Secrets to Your Success," Yahoo! Shine Network, 31 January 2013 | Tranquility49". tranquility49.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  3. ↑ Sheypuk, Danielle. "From Where I Sit: Sex and the City, Disability Style" (PDF). Wheelinsexyinthecity.com. MDA Quest. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Wilding, Patrice (18 July 2015). "Jermyn native opens dialogue about disabilities and dating". thetimes-tribune.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  5. ↑ Scutti, Susan (19 August 2015). "Dateable Self-Esteem: Danielle Sheypuk, Ms. Wheelchair NY, Discusses The Evolution Of Sex In The City". Medical Daily. IBT Media Inc. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  6. ↑ Stahl, Jason (18 July 2012). "Danielle Sheypuk, Ms. Wheelchair New York, is a roll model". NYDailynews.com. NY Daily News.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Katie (8 July 2012). "Jermyn native earns Ms. Wheelchair N.Y. title, spreads message at national competition". thetimes-tribune.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  8. ↑ Sheypuk, Danielle. "Secrets to My Success: Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, Ms Wheelchair NY 2012". Tranquility49.com. Yahoo! Shine Network. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  9. ↑ Kindelan, Katie. "First Model in Wheelchair at New York Fashion Week Has Message for Fashion Industry". ABC News. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  10. ↑ Chester, Cathy. "An Interview: The First Woman in a Wheelchair to Grace The Runways of NYC Fashion Week". MultipleSclerosis.net. Health Union, LLC. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  11. ↑ Sheypuk, Danielle (15 June 2014). "New York Fashion Week: the first runway model in a wheelchair". Disability Horizons.
  12. ↑ Serico, Chris (8 October 2014). "Changing the definition of 'Raw Beauty': Photos empower disabled women". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  13. ↑ "Raw Beauty NYC". Raw Beauty NYC. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  14. ↑ Berzinski, Patrick. ""Good Sex for Every Body": Dr. Danielle Sheypuk is Outspoken in Her TEDx Talk Debut". IBT.com. International Business Times. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  15. ↑ Bianco, Marcie. "A good fit: The latest androgynous outfitter is here" (PDF). Tranquility49.com. Curve Magazine. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  16. ↑ "Dr. Danielle Sheypuk on Skype Therapy, Dating and Psychology". Skype Blogs. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  17. ↑ "About Us". disABILITYincites. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  18. ↑ Stahl, Jason (July 18, 2012). "Danielle Sheypuk, Ms. Wheelchair New York, is a roll model, hitting the clubs & challenging stereotypes". New York Daily News. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  19. ↑ Willard, Laura. "A Gorgeous Model Worked The Runway At Fashion Week. You May Notice Something Different About Her". Upworthy.com. Upworthy. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  20. ↑ Freleng, Maggie (12 February 2014). "New York Fashion Week Features First-Ever Model in Wheelchair". huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  21. ↑ Gordon, Deb. "This Week On FM Magazine: Ms. Wheelchair NY Does NY Fashion Week!". fresh1027.cbslocal.com. FM Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  22. ↑ Sheypuk, Danielle. "Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, "Ms. Wheelchair NY 2012," WNBC NY Nightly News, 9 July 2012". T49video. T49video.
  23. ↑ Kindelan, Katie. "First Model in Wheelchair at New York Fashion Week Has Message for Fashion Industry". ABCnewsgo,com. Good Morning America. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  24. ↑ Sheypuk, Danielle. "Secrets to My Success: Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, Ms Wheelchair NY 2012". T49video. Yahoo! Shine Network. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  25. ↑ Friedlander, Ruthie (13 February 2014). "Meet the Woman Who Cast First Ever Wheelchair Runway Model". elle.com. Elle Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
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