CLOTHING ADAPTATIONS
Remember: Buttons require the most movement and coordination; snaps or dome fasteners are easier. Zippers are faster and easier still, and simplest of all are Velcro strips.
SOME OTHER TIPS
Wheelchair-users should avoid long ties or scarves, full-length coats, wide pant legs, or floppy sleeves, which can catch in wheel spokes or pick up dirt from the tires.
Wrap-around skirts are particularly fast and easy to put on, and allow women in wheelchairs extra movement. Choose a shawl rather than a sweater for extra warmth.
Jackets with side (not rear) vents are less likely to ride up. Pre-tied, clip-on ties are available in attractive patterns for a dressier look. Avoid using pants pockets; keep you wallet in a breast pocket, secured with a strip of Velcro.
If you use crutches, a top with too much roominess can cause bunching or binding under the arms. On the other hand, tight shirts or blouses restrict arm and shoulder movement, leading to balance problems and split seams.
A customized apron of pockets designed for tools or items that you use most frequently may make work or hobby activities easier and more enjoyable.
OUTERWEAR
Look for warm, waterproof designs that can bridge seasons, with the same design features – deep armholes or raglan sleeves, roominess – as indoor clothing.
A hooded poncho or cape is particularly suitable for protecting a wheelchair user from rain and cold, and can be purchased at camping supply stores. If you design your own, cut it just below waist level at the back to allow enough front length to drape over the knees. Taper the sides, so they won’t bunch and catch in the wheels. A zip-in insulated lining can make a rain cape into a cold-weather garment.
A hat is essential in winter since so much body heat escapes from an uncovered head. A well-designed winter hat covers the ears, is made of a natural fiber with good insulating properties, and is not tight. If gloves are difficult for you to wear, try mittens instead. They’re warmer, much easier to get on and off, and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. A thumbless version is especially warm and easy to get on and off, and can be knitted by a friend.
Here are some ideas for accessible footwear:
Inexpensive removable cleats attached to shoes or boots can improve your walking control on ice or snow. These can be purchased from a medical supply store.
DRESSING AIDS
When it come to the actual process of dressing and undressing, dressing aids can make these activities easier.
A well-designed aid should be lightweight but sturdy, and will:
A very simple dressing aid can be made by attaching a clothes peg, hook, garter, or clamp to a piece of fabric tape, rope or length of wood. The rope or tape can be tied into loops for easier handling; two aids can be used together to pull on slacks, pantyhose, or a skirt. An instant dressing aid can be improvised from a wire coat hanger by bending the triangular form into a long, thin handle; use the hook to reach, pull, or zip.
Sew small loops inside your clothes; catch them with the hook of your dressing aid to pull them toward you and to pull them on. Use belt loops on skirts or slacks, and buttonholes on shirts, blouses, and sweaters. If you own a reaching aid, you’ve probably already used it as a dressing aid. Most reachers have jaws or a projecting hook or lug for catching articles and retrieving them. You can find commercial dressing aids at most medical supply shops.
Once the garment is on, you’ll need to fasten it. Buttons can be dealt with easily with a button hook, available in many sizes, with a variety of handles. Push the hook through the buttonhole, catch the button in the hook, and pull it through.
Attach a ring or loop to the zipper on slacks or jackets to make it easier to catch with your finger or the hook of a dressing stick. For back zippers, use a dressing stick if you can reach the zipper; otherwise attach a hook with a cord, (before putting on the garment, if you can’t reach behind), then grasp the cord or ring and pull the zipper.
SHOES AND BOOTS
A simple shoe horn can be your best friend when it comes to putting on shoes and boots, whether laced, buckled, or slip-on. Shop for a long-handled model to reduce bending and straining; check that the point where the horn joins the handle is sturdy, particularly if you use it for heavy shoes or boots. The handle can be built up if you find it hard or painful to grip. Push your shoe up against the wall or a solid piece of furniture for stability when putting it on. Removing shoes and boots can also be difficult, but a bootjack can be a great help. Place your heel between the prongs of the bootjack, and pull your foot out. A bootjack can be fastened to the floor in a convenient location or left free to be moved where needed. Or use the rung of a chair or stool to catch the heel when removing footwear.
Vendors: