Clothing
This section is dedicated to bringing you information about unique and practical special needs clothing items, regular clothing items that we have used creatively, and resources for purchasing them. What you need and will use will depend on your child’s particular needs. We aim to ensure Maya is comfortable and as independent as possible throughout the day. We want her to feel confident and proud.
Alva is a young designer and wheelchair user who has raised the funds to launch her own functional fashion clothing line for people with disabilities. You may learn about her business and stay up to date with her progress here.
Websites offering adaptive clothing items and accessories:
Koolway Sports-Outerwear for wheelchair users
MagnaReady-Magnetic closure dress shirt for adults
Purple Peach Company–A jacket designed for kids with CP!
Meet Melanie Sunnerberg. She is going to college for fashion design and has designed a jacket for children with CP and other mobility challenges. After working with a child with CP, and experiencing how difficult it was to put jackets on her, she came up with something better. You can find her on fb (linked above) and Easy: https://www.etsy.com/in-en/shop/PurplePeachCompany
Silvert’s Adaptive Clothing and Footwear-For Adults–a variety of adaptive clothing options
Target’s Adaptive Apparel Line for kids and adults
Tommy Hilfiger’s Runway of Dreams–adaptive line for children
Shoes for AFO users and conventional shoe accessories:
New!! Gracious May-shoes and boots for children
Hatchback Shoes — These are fashionable yet expensive footwear that is so much easier to put on if your child wears AFOs.
Keeping Pace—Another company offering fashionable footwear for AFO users.
Zappos-This online shoe retailer has a section labeled “orthotic friendly”. This likely will require some trial and error depending on what kind of inserts or AFOs you have, but what a great starting point!
Nike’s Flyease— Zipper and strap system for kids and adults
Billy Footwear-Kids and adults universal shoe design
More ideas- *There are a couple of brands that I have heard work well with AFOs including Stride Rite and New Balance but you will likely need to size up.
Here is a quote from one mom about what she has found success with, “We have had the best success with lace-up sneakers, from cheapie one-star converse from Target to nicer ones from shoe stores, Saucony or New Balance. The latter brands offer extra-wide shoes, so if you are having trouble even after taking out soles, try them next. You may need to get longer laces than the ones that come with the shoes.”
-Meadow, mom of a child with CP
AFO related Facebook pages:
Parents of Kids with AFO, SMO and KAFO
AFOwear-a page started by a mom with personal stories, lessons learned and her tips/solutions for everyday brace wear
Socks for AFO users-
Seamless DAFO and KAFO socks — We have never tried these but I came across them and thought they looked fabulous. I also was inspired by the mother that designed them.
Mom Jenn Solomon wanted me to pass along her input on some new AFO socks they have been trying with her daughter. She told me that compared with other AFO socks they have tried these are softer, lighter weight, and not so tight around her daughter’s leg.
From Jenn:
“I bought these socks for my little girl http://www.afosocks.com/ they are GREAT!!!! And they are less expensive than the other ones They even fold over the top of her afo’s $5 a pair.”
Trouble with tying shoes?
Children and adults who no longer feel comfortable wearing velcro, you may wish to look into Lock Laces. Another possibility is a product called Zubits–magnetic shoe closures.
Knee Covers-
Crawlings — Low profile knee pads that have been wonderful for preventing bruises and scrapes. They are a recent find and Maya loves them. They are vented in the back and come with a few different design options.
Jackets-
Wrapeaze-Easy to put on and take off jacket-wraps
Also check Target’s adaptive clothing line
Fingerless gloves-
Wristies — Keep your child’s hands warm but the fingers free to use. We also used them to cover Maya’s hands when she crawled outside.
Easier to put on belts-
Myself Belts — A wonderful product that gives your child an opportunity to use a belt with more independence.
Wearable blanket-
Halosleep Sack — This ingenious invention eliminated our frequent middle of the night visits to our daughter’s bedroom to put her blankets back on her. They have some with and without holes for the legs. They seem to run plenty long and our 2t-3t still fits Maya at 5 years of age.
Easy to put on shirts-
Shoulder Shirts-This Etsy shop makes shirts which are easy to put on and take off because they have velcro sleeves.
Winter Boots:
1. Koolway Sports has KoolBoots which look awesome, albeit expensive
2. Overshoes-go over existing shoes-lots of options and manufacturers here including NEOS which look like they have great traction and many options–older children and adult sizes only.
3. Keeping Pace maker of orthopedic footwear has a sport boot for kids (it may be available in adult sizes).
4. Rugged Outback–Low cost mainstream boot with front that zippers down!! This was a great suggestion offered by a mom who followers our Facebook page. This manufacturer offers a boot that has a front flap that opens so far down in the front that it makes it really easy to remove the liner and use with AFOS. A quick Google search on the name led me to Payless and the mom who shared this said she found them at Shopko. It looks like the ones that have the front flap like the one in this pic are available in boys and girls sizes only.
G-Tube accessories:
G-Tube Guards-Designed by a mom whose child has a G-tube.
Tubie Whoobies-G-tube pads that come in fun shapes and colors/patterns and inspired by a mom whose child has a G-tube.
Eyelids 4 Kids — Reusable cloth patches that attach to your child’s glasses
Ortopad Patches — Disposable, sticky patches available in many patterns and colors that you place on your child’s eye
20 comments
Cortez Dotts says:
Mar 3, 2014
Kudos for browsing my added story on this for even a little more just drop by us. locklaces review
Anonymous says:
Jun 4, 2014
Any advice for slippers that will give good support. They won’t be used with an AFO
Amanda says:
Jun 4, 2014
Any advice for slippers that will give good support. They won’t be used with an AFO. My 3 yr old is a right hemi.
cp daily living says:
Jun 7, 2014
The one possibility that comes to mind would be to check out slippers made by a company called Acorn. They are made for adults and children (I am not sure about young children). I don’t know that they are going to provide the type of support your child needs, but it may be worth looking at them. -Michele
Heather says:
Jul 8, 2014
I have AFOS for two of my triplets with cerebral palsy, insurance completely covers a pair of Hatchback shoes per year and the company who provides them gives me a large discount to purchase additional pairs through them. The shoes are amazing and make life much easier. Insurance also covers 7 pairs of the seamless socks for wearing with the AFOS. These were also provided through company who makes/fits the orthotics. My children have SSI and so are fully covered by insurance so I don’t have any copayments either on any of the items.
cp daily living says:
Jul 8, 2014
Wow, that is great news! I have no idea if other insurance companies will do this, but it’s certainly worth people trying. Thank you for sharing!
Jessica says:
Sep 11, 2014
I just got AFOs and I have around 10-12 pairs of skinny leg jeans. Since getting my AFOs I have not been able to wear any of them. Any suggestions on how I might be able to keep wearing them?
Thanks!
cp daily living says:
Sep 14, 2014
Hi Jessica! I will post this on the CP Daily Facebook page to see what kind of ideas people may have. Are you on Facebook so you can follow the thread? I will post it tomorrow. -Michele
Jess says:
Sep 14, 2014
Thanks!
bridgette says:
Nov 19, 2014
I’m looking for gloves for a crawler. Something thick to add cushion as they transfer on hard surfaces or play outside.
cp daily living says:
Nov 24, 2014
How old is the child or individual? You may wish to search “wheelchair gloves” for possible options that are durable.
-Michele
Cyndi says:
Jan 8, 2015
Any ideas for storing clothes. My son can’t fold. Putting down into the dresser drawer messes any kind of folding he DID accomplish. Any more than three stacked high in shirts and they are a garbled mess. He is in college so wearing a garbled mess is fine and kind of normal BUT that isn’t going to work for an office job. He is going to college 7 hours away from home and doesn’t want to live at home with mom and dad forever.
Anyone thought of a day to day life storage for shirts? Thanks
cp daily living says:
Jan 12, 2015
The only thing I can think of is to have him hang the majority of his clothes on a low bar. It could even be portable.
Yuri says:
Mar 5, 2015
Shoes for AFO users you can also find at http://www.memo-shoes.com/
Memo – European manufacturer of kids orthopedic footwear offering fashionable footwear for children with CP and AFO users. Shoes made from goat skin, can be equipped with Memo orthpedic inserts.
Esther Cherry says:
Mar 11, 2015
I need help finding alternative funding for the equipment that my daughter needs. She has Cerbal Palsy and is wheelchair bound, and requires a Rifton Tram which would allow her to stand, walk, and allow me to transfer her with the lift. Her insurance won’t pay for this equipment,and she really needs it. Thanks for your help. Mama C.
cp daily living says:
Mar 14, 2015
Dear Esther,
You may check the list of resources I have in the equipment section.
http://cpdailyliving.com/types-of-equipment/
-Michele
William says:
Jun 14, 2016
Good Evening,
I wanted to thank you for supplying great services and wanted to inform you of the direction and progress of Downs Designs Dreams (NBZ & Downs Designs). Our organization is constructed of two brands that we provide and, or, donate to help several communities. We Ship all over the world but our free try-on shipping service and programs are only available within the United States.
Our Downs Designs line is specially designed to properly fit the unique body types of those with Down syndrome.Our NBZ line is for typical body types benefiting the elderly, disabled veterans, Parkinson’s, Autism, amputees, cerebral palsy, stroke victims, ALS, and much more.
Both lines have soft stretchy sensory friendly denim, no buttons, zippers, or tags, and an elastic waistband. The Jeans do, however, allow for belt use, have a mock fly, and come in different fashionable styles. Our clothing provides wardrobe solutions that will match one’s peers while granting easier independent dressing. The organization has begun production on the black dress and khaki options for both lines as well, which will be available in August. The new additions will assist those with social, formal, schooling, and employment needs.
Downs Designs Dreams has created its Adopt-A-Jean Friday Program to donate clothing solutions to those with disabilities and their families at no cost, upon submitting stories that educate others about the clothing struggles faced by those with disabilities. Every Friday from those submissions the organization donates several pairs the families in need. The program is continuing to grow and we would love to assist more. Here is the link to submit for a donated pair of Jeans: http://downsdesignsdreams.org/adopt-a-jean-entry-form
We also created our Support-a-Veteran program that allows us to donate to disabled veterans, organizations, and clinics. We have had a few very successful operations that have led to new pilot locations across the county and a plan to develop the program on a national level. As a veteran myself, I’m very passionate about this cause. Our programs make our clothing solutions available to all. We have begun a national partnership with the United States Veteran Administration.
Best,
William and The Downs Designs Dreams Team
http://www.DownsDesignsDreams.org
Daniel says:
Jun 27, 2016
Hi,
Thank you so much for great list, I have few things I could now share with people that are in touch and seeking for advice. You can probably add to this list our small brand with sandals, shoes and boots that AFO friendly but also can be worn as an alternative or just alternate if doctor allows so. We are Australian based but deliver worldwide, manufacturer shoes in Europe from leather (cow) and organic materials. It is called First Walkers (https://firstwalkers.com.au) and greatly supported by doctors across the country.
Thank you,
Daniel
Jeunx says:
Oct 18, 2017
Hi,
Do you have any gloves for those with Quadriplegia Spastic CP? My sister lives in the Philippines, a humid country. My niece is wearing knitted gloves to protect her face and body from uncontrolled scratching. Is there anything comfortable so she doesn’t get sweaty hands but still give her the protection?
Thank you.
Jeunx
Sandra Thatcher says:
Feb 1, 2018
Great info. I am looking for sleeves only my granddaughter can wear th I keep her are warm. With only small amount of movement her gets cold. Any help would be greatly appreciated