Fashion and Assistive Technology might seem like a bizarre intersection, but for most people with disabilities, it makes complete sense.

Adaptive clothing can help people with a variety of disabilities manage their clothing independently throughout the entire day. Just as there is a myriad of disabilities, there is also a myriad of adaptive clothing needs. You might need clothing that is easier to put on in a sitting position, that can accommodate limb difference, allow for medical device access, doesn’t require fine motor skills to interact with or offers smaller size options for adult styles of clothing. On top of these need related differences, the number of considerations increase exponentially when choice of adaptation comes into play like: magnetic vs Velcro closures; back, side and hidden access openings; designs that are toileting-friendly; provide seated comfort; offer step-in options; grant easy access points; or soft/sensory-friendly material types. All of this comes into play, many times, before the user’s sense of taste is even brought into the picture. That is why Where It’s AT is here with a current set of adaptive clothing options and vendors. That way, your clothes are not only functional for your needs, but are also the form of self-expression they should be.

• WayAround has a free app which uses your phone’s NFC (or you can purchase a dedicated WayAround scanner) to scan WayTags. You can purchase laundry safe WayTags to make it easier for those with vision based disabilities to identify their clothing and style on the fly, just scan and listen to the description you have associated with the tag! WayTags are reprogrammable and are therefore able to be removed from old clothing and applied to new additions to your wardrobe. The app is compatible with Apple’s Voiceover or Android’s Talkback so you’ll have no trouble integrating this great tool into your routine.
• Patti + Ricky have a substantial line of adaptive tools that are initially organized into gendered categories with women’s adaptive accessories and men’s adaptive accessories, although there are items in both that would interest any person. These categories include braille patches to help identify clothing items, stylish protective helmets, fidget jewelry and chewelry, and dressing gadgets.
• Zappos has a fantastic variety of adaptive shoes, and they support those options and more with adaptive accessories like easy pull-on socks, no-tie laces, ostomy bag covers, trach pads, and one handed belts.
• Buck & Buck sells “clothing that promotes independent dressing, or styles that make dressing a loved one easier”. They have a wide variety of options in their men’s section like, ties that zip, lap robes, and belts and their women’s section like, skin protectors, foot snugglers and bibs.
• Able2 Wear promotes that they are the “UK’s leading supplier of wheelchair clothing and adaptive clothing”, offering waterproof wheelchair items and easy fastening belts.
• Professional Fit Clothing has a line of Pica behavior clothing, including Pica designed sheets and pillows that are made out of an outdoor waterproof polyester that will hold up to aggressive picking. They also have a wide variety of adult bibs and chair protectors.
• JCPenny has an adaptive clothing line with a lot of adaptive accessories, such as; easy pull on socks, scooter/walker/wheelchair pouches, hook and loop belts and compression vests.
• This writer’s absolute favorite wearable AT are glasses from Specs4Us, designed to solve the problem of glasses that don’t sit properly on the faces of individuals with Down syndrome. Specs4Us frames are “custom-designed with shortened temples, extra wide frame fronts, and a lowered bridge” and eliminate the too low glasses wearing which typically results in people with Down syndrome needing to tilt their heads extremely up in order to see through their glasses. These glasses are a game changer!
• Magic Wallet Shop sells wallets that require minimal hand dexterity to manage, nevermind how nice they are to look at.
• FFORA offers stylish wheelchair accessories like cup holders, leather water bottle holders, and hard shell, mini suitcase style storage options.
• Care+Wear has a line of PICC line covers that are available in a variety of sizes and colors (even offering MLB Branded versions) and PICC line shower covers.
• Aerie has a few really nice adaptive accessories like ostomy covers, cath clips and sensory friendly waistbands that can hold ostomies, feeding tubes, and catheters close to the body.
• Rolli-Moden has some really cool and contemporary gloves and hand protection for manual wheelchair users.
• Fun and Function sells sensory clothing items and accessories for kids like weighted pocket scarves, sensory sleeves, compression shorts, and weighted caps.
• SpecialKids.Company is based in the UK and offers a wide range of adaptive clothing and accessories designed specifically for children with disabilities. Their accessories include wheelchair sunshades, chewelry, and water resistant covers.
• Trabasack sells lap desk bags specially designed for wheelchair users. Some of their designs are fully functional as laptop cases for professionals, and others have ingenious curves built in so the desk is comfortably right where it needs to be, setting itself up to be used for tactile play, gaming or daily desk use.
• Siren specializes in socks for people with diabetes that “send information to a licensed nurse and… doctor to help you find potential injuries you may not feel. This may help reduce the risk of diabetic foot ulcers and other foot complications.” This is some pretty phenomenal technology and can even be covered with insurance and Medicare!
• Jobst Stockings specializes in compression stockings, and anything you might need to support their use, from sock dressing aids, garter belts, and cleaning kits!
• Able2 Wear promotes that they are the “UK’s leading supplier of wheelchair clothing and adaptive clothing” and also have accessories to support their clothing options. They offer clip on ties, fingerless gloves and scooter bags.
• Fleximug sells mugs that are a “hands-free drinking aid designed to improve the lives of those with multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, or other physical disabilities”. Declaring that users will “never [need] assistance to take a drink again.” They sell their mugs in a variety of sizes, including it’s super cool, super bendy straw, and also sell a variety of options to mount the mug to chairs or furniture.
• RehaDesign sells wheelchair slippers in a variety of lovely deep colors that act as exactly what they say, slippers for your wheelchair. These are great to keep interior floors clean in your home or when visiting.
• And finally, some basic daily living accessories can make a world of difference whether you are getting dressed or getting around. Items like button hooks, sock dressing aids, shoe horns, oxygen tank bags, wheelchair umbrella holders, and walker totes are always awesome to have on hand.