Adaptive Clothing

TOPS & PANTS

There are (stylish!) options to promote independence with dressing.

Options may:

• Eliminate the need for fastening or zipping closures, which may speed up dressing and alleviate frustration
• Provide easy-close alternatives
• Be available in petite sizes or short lengths
• Resemble standard clothing including shirts, sweatshirts, pants, jeans, khakis, or other tops and pants

While not an exhaustive list, some examples of tops include:

• Pullover shirts or t-shirts

• Shirts with magnetic and/or Velcro closures

• Attaching Velcro to existing shirts (i.e., over buttonholes)

While not an exhaustive list, some examples of pants include:

• Pants with an elastic waist

• Pull-on pants, jeans, or khakis

• Pants with magnetic and/or Velcro closures

The terms in the lists above may be helpful to use in search engines or when online shopping. Prices, fabrics, and availability vary, although options can be found at many common retailers such as Kohls, Target, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Amazon.

Some specific lines and brands include (listed alphabetically, not in order of preference):

• Clothing with MagnaClick or MagZip (sold at a variety of retailers)
• Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive
• Zappos Adaptive

BELTS

Two “buckle-less” belt options are:

• BeltBro

• Myself Belts

SHOES & SHOELACES

Many brands offer adaptive styles (prices and availability vary). Some features of adaptive shoes include:

• No tying required
• Wraparound zippers

• Adjustable straps

• Slip-on

The following are several examples of adaptive shoes or brands that make adaptive shoes (listed alphabetically, not in order of preference). Many of these brands also carry wide shoe options.

• Adidas Supernova Rise 3 Adaptive
  • This shoe was inspired by conversations with adidas-sponsored athlete Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon.
• BILLY Footwear
• Friendly Shoes
• Mt. Emey/Apis
• New Balance (slip-on shoes and wide shoes)
• Nike EasyOn
• OrthoFeet
• Zappos Adaptive

Rather than buying a new pair of shoes, adaptive shoelaces can be used with an existing pair of shoes. They replace or attach to standard laces and turn lace-up shoes into slip-ons. Options include:

• Elastic shoelaces (available at many retailers)
• HICKIES Laces

• Zubits Magnetic Closures

**Please note: We are sharing information about these products for educational purposes only. The Adult Down Syndrome Center does not receive financial support or compensation for sharing information about these products.