Clothing for Special Needs: Clothing for the Disabled

Approximately 35 million American adults and children are disabled, with some physical or mental impairment that limits their activities. Their basic clothing should be functional, comfortable, and attractive. Clothing can enhance or limit independence and productivity. Tight or confining clothing can impair movement and reduce comfort. It also may cause a feeling of unattractiveness, possibly lowering self-esteem. Many people with disabilities, whether temporary or permanent, have reduced physical strength and dexterity. The more independent they can become, the more psychologically healthy they will feel.

Some self-help features make it easier to manage fastening/unfastening and putting on/removing clothes. Many features allow for added fullness, giving greater comfort and ease of movement. The following features may promote independence in dressing/undressing:

• Simple styles, with minimal details.
• Front or side closures.
• Full-length zippers.
• Attached zipper pulls (small loops, rings, yarn tassels, braided ribbon, or cording) for grasping zippers.
• Hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro.
• Large buttons, buttons sewn with elastic thread, or mock buttons.
• Raglan and dolman sleeves; large arm openings.
• Large neck openings; drawstring necklines.
• Extra fullness at the knees and elbows.
• Elastic waistbands; waist closures.
• Pants with a long back rise (for better fit in the sitting position).
• Wraparound skirt styles.
• Large pockets; pockets placed just below the knees of trousers or on wheelchair arms.
• Pants opened the entire length of a side seam (for leg or foot casts).
• Built-in slings for support (for paralyzed or weakened arms).
• Underwear with alternative seam openings.
• Knitted fabrics. (However, sharp edges on braces or crutches may snag knitted garments.)
• Short jackets with side vents.

Clothing for the disabled often deviates from usual shapes in order to be more functional and to minimize flaws. Although the body may not be symmetrical, clothing can make it appear that way. Separates are excellent choices when the top is different in size from the bottom. Clothing for the disabled should be as fashionable as possible to convey a sense of normalcy. For example, wearing daytime clothes instead of sleepwear/loungewear creates a positive feeling that helps the disabled identify with others. It is particularly important for disabled youth to feel that they belong.

Finding appropriate, functional, and attractive self-help clothing is difficult. A need exists for specially designed clothing for the disabled to be manufactured and marketed. Although the number of Americans with disabilities is large, manufacturers are reluctant to mass produce this specialty clothing. In a helpful trend, manufacturers are offering more styles that can be worn by both nondisabled and disabled consumers. Examples are wraparound skirts and some action wear.

In the early 1980's, several Japanese firms adopted ideas for the slightly disabled to develop clothing for the disabled. Some of the garments produced were raincoats, pajamas, shirts, and underwear. These garments are still being sold in various parts of the world, but they cost about 30 percent more because of their sewing techniques.

Clothing Modification

Consumers may modify ready-to-wear clothing for the disabled. For example, to allow for greater freedom of movement, a pleat can be created at the back of a sleeve, or an inverted pleat can be made in the side seam of the knee area.

Adapting commercial clothing for the disabled could be a worthwhile club project. An enterprising home-sewing entrepreneur also could fill this need.

People in wheelchairs can be uncomfortable with extra fabric or bulk across the lap and underneath them as they sit. The following garment changes can help:

• Fold out extra fabric across lap of pants, skirts, or dresses.
• Extend back crotch length at the waist of slacks.
• Shorten tops or jackets and cut out back seat area of skirts.
• Make pant legs wide enough to slip on easily. An alternative is to attach closures (zippers, nylon hooks, or loop fasteners) in sideseam area.

Panchos or capes are good for cold weather and are much easier to maneuver than coats. Do not allow edges to get caught in the wheels during movement.

Clothing for people using crutches, either temporarily or permanently, demands careful consideration. The use of crutches can cause excessive rubbing against clothing, especially in the underarm and sleeve areas. Reaching and pulling also cause additional strain on fabrics. Garments tend to lift up from normal body positions when crutches are used. Clothing for crutch users should move with the wearer and not bind during movement.

With careful planning and a few alterations or changes in design, clothing can promote ease of movement for physically or mentally challenged people. It is desirable to be able to function independently, and clothing can be an important factor in promoting independent living.

Clothes for Independent Living (1979), South Carolina Extension Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

Wolfe, Mary Gorgen. (1989) Fashion. The Goodhear-Willcox Company, Inc., South Holland, IL.

Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, Ohio State University.

Information Sheet 1559
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director

Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved.

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