How to Adapt Clothes for the Handicapped

Adapting clothes for the disabled requires forethought and empathy. The challenge is to combine practicality and aesthetic considerations. Specially designed clothing is available from catalogues and from online. But this is not the answer to every handicapped person's problems because some disabled people want to buy clothing from general shops or high-fashion retailers. Such people need to know how to adapt off the rack clothing to any special needs they might have.

Instructions

• 1

  Assess the individual's needs. Involve the handicapped person as much as possible in the choosing and buying of new clothes. Ask him about his preferences and about the clothing issues he finds irritating. This may be the way the fabric bunches at the back, if he spends much of his time in a wheelchair, or the way the clothing is fastened. Many handicapped people hate pulling clothing over their heads. Sew fastenings to the shoulders and split the sleeves to overcome this issue in nightwear.

• 2

  Discuss the fabric choice with the handicapped person. The thermal quality of the fabric is important, particularly if the wearer is not mobile, and consequently not able to warm up by moving. For similar reasons discuss the uses of a waterproof poncho or cape with the handicapped person, if he is a wheelchair user. Consider the sighting of seams. Hard seams can cause a great deal of discomfort to a person who is unable to easily change position. In some situations, open back garments can maintain the dignity of a person who has to use a bedpan. It is easy to open a seam at the back.

• 3

  Discuss the issue with a caregiver, if the disabled person needs help dressing and undressing. The person who is helping with this is usually best placed to give advice on comfort, ease of access and fastening. It can be really difficult to dress a person whose disability means that lifting his arms is difficult or impossible.It is relatively easy to remove buttons and hooks and eyes and apply velcro tape or magnetic poppers. These are easy to apply; sometimes, no sewing is required.