Clothing Modifications and Down Syndrome

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Hi,

Just sharing this article that might be of interest for some of you.

Bonnie

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art68186.asp/zzz

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Pamela

BellaOnline's Special Needs Children Editor

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Clothing Modifications and Down Syndrome

Some children have difficulty with fine motor skills, finger strength,

left-handedness, developmental delays or other problems that cause buttons,

snaps, hooks, laces or zippers to be great challenges. Fashion trends and

manufacturing introduce additional difficulties from situations as simple as

button holes being slightly too small for the buttons used, difficult snaps,

mismatched hooks or inadequate zipper pull tabs.

Families of children with Down syndrome who find fasteners frustrating do search

out current fashion trends that include velcro fasteners; elastic waistbands or

laces; or have clothing altered so that children can more easily achieve

independence with dressing and fastening their clothing. Motor planning and

muscle control may be delayed or impaired so no matter how hard they try,

fasteners are impossible to manage.

Families may take advantage of adaptive clothing or tools developed for seniors

who maintain their independence while challenged by injury, illness, arthritis

or other conditions. Some adaptive clothing is made for the convenience of

caregivers rather than the individuals who require help in dressing and

undressing. Although parents do have the right to simplify their lives, it is

important that children do not fall into the trap of learned helplessness even

when it masquerades as royal treatment.

Children should be allowed to work on developing the strength, skills and

techniques that are required to dress and fasten their own clothing, but

training sessions and repeated failures can teach them to avoid learning tasks

by whatever means they can invent.

Children with Down syndrome deserve every opportunity we can find for them to be

successful and competent whether they are learning and playing with mainstream

peers or other children who have disabilities. Having control over their

clothing choices and mastery of self-help skills builds self confidence and a

positive attitude that will take them much farther than reliance on caregivers

or peer partners for what we can help become simple tasks.

Browse at your local department stores or online retailers to find pants like

Lands End Climber Pants for boys or Levi Leggings for Girls and tools like

Button Aids or Zipper Pulls.