Check out the latest in shoes and clothes designed for people who use wheelchairs, have trouble with buttons and zippers, need discreet port access, and more.

When you live with a disability or body difference, small daily tasks can become difficult or even insurmountable. I know this from personal experience with rheumatoid arthritis: When I have hand pain, everything from chopping vegetables to zipping up a pair of jeans is a challenge!

Fortunately, there have never been more options on the market for adaptive clothing and footwear. Adaptive clothing is simply clothing designed for people with a disability or body difference to be able to use with more ease, independence, or comfort without sacrificing style.

Adaptive clothing includes a wide variety of innovations including:

This article surveys some of the brands and styles of adaptive clothing that solve a variety of disability-related problems. It’s intended as an overview of what’s available, not an endorsement of any particular brand or clothing item.

Adaptive footwear includes shoes that are easy to take on and off, can accommodate ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) or custom orthotics, are available as singles for people with lower-limb amputations, and more. Here are some brands and examples you might want to check out:

Simply putting pants, shirts, and other clothing items on and taking them off can be difficult if you have hand pain, weakness, lack of sensation, an amputation, or other challenges. The following clothing items feature innovations to make putting on and taking off clothing easier.

Most clothing is designed for people to wear when standing rather than for prolonged seated wear. For a wheelchair user, clothing designed for seated use can be much more comfortable and functional on a daily basis. For example, pants designed for seated use tend to have a shorter rise in the front, which reduces fabric bunching in the groin area, and a higher rise in the back for full coverage. They also generally do away with back pockets and lumpy back seams — or any back seam — for added comfort.

Tops designed for wheelchair use often include snap or hook and loop closures at the back of the neck to make them easier to put on and take off over the head, or they may have hook and loop closures along the entire back, to make it easier for caregivers to get the shirt on and off the person wearing it.

Here are some examples and brands that have designed wheelchair-friendly clothing.

People who use prostheses not only may need some of the adaptations to clothing that assist with dressing and undressing, but they also have the additional challenge of the prosthesis changing the size of the limb at the joint (particularly the knee), as well as also significant wear and tear where the prosthetic joint rubs on the clothing.

Here are some options to consider for people who use prostheses or have amputations:

If you use a medical device such as a port or a feeding tube, apparel that has openings to allow access to these devices is much more convenient than conventionally designed clothing. Here are just a few of the many examples of clothing designed for easy access to medical devices.

Finding bras, underwear, and other intimates that have adaptive features while also being aesthetically appealing has historically been almost impossible. In the past two decades however, a variety of options have come on the market that are both stylish and functional for a variety of needs, including difficulty with closures and fasteners, weakness, and other potential barriers to putting on and taking off underclothes.

People who have chronic pain and those who identify as neurodiverse often are highly sensitive to sensory input, particularly from clothing textures. Tags, seams, and rough fabrics can be very irritating or impossible to tolerate for some individuals. In the past decade, however, more brands are offering “sensory-friendly” clothing, which is made from soft materials, doesn’t have tags, and is designed to fit comfortably. Here are just a few examples:

While some people are hypersensitive to tactile input, others find that compression clothing, which “hugs” the skin, to be more comfortable than standard clothing. Compression clothing promotes blood flow and circulation, which is particularly helpful for those with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Additionally, compression clothing can serve as an orthoses and support joints so they don’t slip out of place.

Compression clothing can also be very useful for people with diabetes, cardiac issues, or swelling following surgery for breast cancer. However, people with these conditions should check with their doctor before using compression clothing; it may not be recommended in all instances.

Interestingly, while some with chronic pain are hypersensitive to tactile input, others find that compression garments offer a degree of comfort and even pain reduction, which is why for example I personally use compression gloves to help minimize hand pain from rheumatoid arthritis.

Regardless of disability or health condition, many find gentle pressure to be calming, from infants who enjoy swaddling to adults who enjoy a weighted blanket or tight clothing. Here are some of many examples of compression clothing.

In spite of all of the examples we’ve offered here, we’ve only scratched the surface of adaptive fashion! There are also stylish options for carrying or covering medical accessories, for example, such as insulin pump belts, PICC line covers, wheelchair backpacks, and more. If you’re interested in learning more about accessible fashion, check out the following links.

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