Children’s Specialized Hospital Partners with BILLY Footwear to Bring New Shoe to Market

New Brunswick –The Center for Discovery, Innovation and Development (CDID) at Children’s Specialized Hospital, a part of the Children’s Health network at RWJBarnabas Health, recently partnered with BILLY Footwear to create a new shoe, BILLY Limitless.

BILLY Limitless was designed with input from Children’s Specialized Hospital clinicians, patients and families in addition to the BILLY Footwear team, representing a shared commitment to inclusivity, innovation, care and comfort for all we serve. While BILLY Limitless is for anyone looking for a comfortable and supportive shoe, it will specifically benefit children and adults with autism, diabetes, gout, arthritis, cerebral palsy, brace wearers, or those with other sensory needs.

“I was thrilled to be included in the design of BILLY Limitless,” said Katherine Bentley, MD, Section Chief of Pediatric Physiatry and Director of the Chronic Pain Management Program, Children’s Specialized Hospital. “Many of my patients wear BILLY shoes in addition to my son Elliot who has a rare form of epilepsy that causes him to have some trouble with balance, developmental delays, low muscle tone and he also wears ankle braces. BILLY shoes are great because he can put them on himself and since they’re so stylish he doesn’t feel different from other kids. Bringing BILLY Limitless to market as another inclusive and fashionable option for the patients and families we serve has been an incredible accomplishment, both personally and professionally.”

Key features of BILLY Limitless include:

“At RWJBarnabas Health, we believe that health and healthcare are not necessarily synonymous, understanding that the health of an individual lives beyond our hospital walls and the services we provide,” said Matthew B. McDonald, III, President and Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Specialized Hospital. “Through the Center for Discovery, Innovation and Development at Children’s Specialized Hospital, we’re creating innovative partnerships like the one with BILLY Footwear to better understand and address the health disparity needs of our patients and their families. Very often special health care needs are overlooked, so when we got involved with BILLY Footwear, our hope was that we would make life a little easier for anyone facing unique challenges. Bringing BILLY Limitless to market for those individuals has been really special for us.”

About Children’s Specialized Hospital
Children’s Specialized Hospital, part of the Children’s Health network at RWJBarnabas Health, is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children and young adults from birth to 21 years of age facing special health care challenges – from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries to a full scope of developmental, behavioral, and mental health concerns. Throughout our many New Jersey based locations, our pediatric specialists partner with families to make our many innovative therapies and medical treatments more personalized and effective so each child can reach their full potential. To learn more, visit rwjbh.org/childrensspecialized.

About the Center for Discovery, Innovation & Development
The mission of the Center for Discovery, Innovation & Development (CDID) is to develop, innovate and discover solutions for the global advancement of the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults with special health needs and their families. CDID transforms health and healthcare through creating disruptive positive change by discovery, development, growth, and commercialization of innovative care, products, services, collaborations, and ideas. CDID aims to improve overall well-being and quality of life, embracing accelerated innovative principles and strategies that focus on the human experience to identify needs, and design solutions to meet them. To learn more, visit www.cdid.org

About BILLY Footwear
Founded in 2015 by Seattle natives Darin Donaldson and Billy Price, BILLY Footwear is revolutionizing the shoe industry through universal design, delivering style and functionality, without compromise, for everyone. BILLY was founded upon the principle of Universal Design, the concept of creating accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly products and environments that serve and improve the experience for everyone, regardless of ability or other factors. Our innovative shoes feature zippers that wrap around the side and toe, allowing the upper to open completely. This makes putting on shoes effortless and independent, including those with mobility challenges. Our mission is deeply personal. In 1996, Billy Price became paralyzed from the chest down after a three-story fall, making everyday tasks, like putting on shoes, very difficult. After years of searching for a solution that was both functional and stylish, Billy and Darin created a prototype that met these needs and more. What started as a solution for Billy grew into a mission to create fashionable, inclusive shoes for everyone. BILLY Footwear is proud to be at the forefront of this movement towards greater inclusion. To learn more, visit www.billyfootwear.com.