This post is sponsored by Zappos Adaptive; opinions and excitement are my own.
Mom fact of life: I spend more time clothes shopping for my children than I do for myself, typically online at about 11:30 p.m. Buying stuff for Max can be particularly challenging. Because his fingers are stiff from the cerebral palsy, he needs pants that he can easily pull up and down (even the elastic waistband on sweatpants can be too tight for him to manipulate) and shoes that he can fasten himself.
Mom fact of life: I spend more time clothes shopping for my children than I do for myself, typically online at about 11:30 p.m. Buying stuff for Max can be particularly challenging. Because his fingers are stiff from the cerebral palsy, he needs pants that he can easily pull up and down (even the elastic waistband on sweatpants can be too tight for him to manipulate) and shoes that he can fasten himself.
You can imagine how gleeful I was to hear that Zappos just debuted a collection devoted to adaptive clothing for kids, teens, men and women: Zappos Adaptive: Functional and Fashionable Products to Make Life Easier. As in, easier for your child and you.
The curated selection of tops, pants, dresses, shorts and underwear includes ones that are reversible and have tear-away tags (they come off with barely a tug). The fabrics are really soft, the pants have elastic waistbands and there are no buttons. The shoes are easy-access and slip on or use bungees and cords; there are ones that can be worn with orthotics, too. Basically, there are options for children and adults with cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, sensory issues and any condition that can impair fine-motor skills or mobility.
Columbia Kids Silver Ridge Pull-On Pants in British Tan and 4Ward Clothing Four-Way Reversible Long Sleeve Jersey Top in Black/Sky. The name 4Ward, Zappos' own line, represents enabling people with challenges to move forward, being fashion forward and clothes that are four-way reversible—front, back, inside and out.
The waistband is on the loose side, so pants are easier to handle.
Mr. Handsome in an Adidas Kids UFB Reversible Jersey in Gray/Solar Yellow and 4Ward Clothing Four-Way Reversible Pants in Navy/Oatmeal.
The waistband on these pants is especially thick and stretchy.
The idea for the collection started with a call from a concerned grandmother. A Zappos staffer in customer service listened to a granny who needed to exchange her grandson's shoes. She noted that he had autism, and trouble tying laces. As he got older, finding shoes was becoming a challenge. Bingo!
4Ward Clothing Long Sleeve Raglan Shirt — Reversible Front/Back in Charcoal/Greenery.
It is all sorts of awesome that a major mainstream website is offering clothing and shoe options for people with disabilities. The clothes look stylish and Max, who increasingly cares about what he wears, thinks they are cool. He can now browse the same site where his sister and I shop. This is just the start; selections will expand, and you can share thoughts about clothing you'd like to see by clicking "Give feedback." I'm hoping for tops with magnetic button closures.
It is also amazing, of course, to see your child with special needs enabled.
Let's talk about those brilliant sneakers. Sabrina has been a fan of Converse for years. Max hasn't been into them, a good thing because getting standard high-tops on would be difficult since his feet are pretty tight.
As Max and I were browsing the collection he spotted a pair of Converse Kids Chuck Taylor All Star Easy Slip in red (fireman red, he noted) and fell in love. They were just what we needed; the laces are elasticized, and two flaps at the back close with hook-and-loop fasteners.
Max couldn't wait to wear the sneakers. I helped slip his feet into them. Then he closed them on his own, and that made both of us really happy.
