MDF Magazine Issue 62 7 August 2020 (7)

How to Dress to Impress with Adaptive
Clothing
By Vantage Mobility
What is adaptive clothing, and why is it important?
Adaptive clothing is a form of assistive technology, like
canes for walking or glasses for seeing, made specifically
for people with disabilities. There are certain distinctions in
adaptive clothing that make getting dressed easier for people
with disabilities. The options are geared toward specific
disabilities or ailments, such as magnetic buttons and slip-on
tennis shoes for people with arthritis or Parkinson’s.
Stephanie Thomas, a disability fashion stylist and founder of
Cur8able.com, says disability-friendly clothing is often times
more comfortable and in some cases, safer to wear. She also
says it gives people with disabilities the independence and
freedom to dress themselves according to their own personal
style.
But consider this:
While most able-bodied people can head into a store at
the mall and find something they like, many people in
wheelchairs cannot. Sometimes it’s because of the
difficulty in wheeling around small shops or weaving in
between people. But perhaps the most prominent reason is
there simply aren’t accessible clothing options for people
with seated body types.
Think about it:
When was the last time you saw a rack of clothes designed
for people in wheelchairs? And though this article features
several disability clothing brands, many of which can only
be accessed online, Thomas emphasizes that people with
disabilities need so many more options.
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Of the available adaptive clothing companies out there,
Thomas says there are still many styles not reflected, like
grunge, preppy and more.
Now what we need to realize is this:
If able bodies can choose any style to express themselves,
why can’t people with disabilities? To learn how to advocate
for more disability clothing options and to learn how to make
the most of your personal style right now, check out the
following tips.
5 Steps to Dressing Stylishly for People with
Disabilities
Invest in adaptive clothing, and here’s why:
• Whereas regular trousers might rise near the ankle or the
waistline might be pulled down and expose one’s backside
upon sitting, adaptive pants are specifically made to
combat those issues.
• Adaptive tops with three-quarter or full-length sleeves
have extra material near the elbow, making it more
comfortable to set arms on wheelchair armrests.
• Adaptive clothing is usually made with softer, sweat
resistant fabric that is more gentle on skin and helps
avoid skin sores.
• Adaptive clothing provides more accessible fastening
options: be it zippers in easier-to-reach areas, magnetic
buttons, or elastic materials to avoid fasteners all together,
disability-friendly clothing makes getting dressed less of a
hassle. That means you can focus on what really matters:
looking good and feeling good!
• Just remember, like a nice suit for work or a dress for a
formal event, adaptive clothing should be considered an