DIY Adaptive Clothing for Wheelchair Users
Creating wheelchair adaptive clothing for my son has been something I have done behind the scenes for a few years now. It is really difficult to find fun and cool clothes for kids in wheelchairs. This post will share two different ways to adapt a sweatshirt for a wheelchair or stroller user. I will also share a great savings program with you that we use for my son. ABLEnow® is a special savings account for people with disabilities, scroll down to learn more and for your chance to win $500 towards your own ABLEnow account! This post was sponsored by ABLEnow®. I have been compensated for this post but all ideas and opinions are my own. PLUS:Check out THESE wheelchair access sticker cut files.
DIY Adaptive Clothing for Wheelchair Users
What is ABLEnow?
The ABLEnow savings plan is one of the premier ABLE programs and enrollment is open to residents of all 50 states. The ABLEnow savings program allows you to save money for disability related expenses. It also allows your friends and family to contribute to the account and thus these expenses. The BEST part about this account is that it will not be held against you for benefits you might receive, such as Social Security and Medicaid. This is a HUGE relief, as medical expenses and living expenses can be significantly debilitating as a person with a disability.
Why we use ABLEnow:
My son is in a wheelchair and as a blogger I am very lucky to be able to stay home to take care of him. When he gets older, he will go away to college or get a job and he will need money to find a home that is wheelchair accessible. He will also need money to hire a helper to get him in and out of his chair and to help with day to da needs. We used to worry that if we saved too much for his future, he wouldn’t be able to get the assistance he needed for medical bills. This savings account means that together with our family and friends we can save for his future without fear of losing vital benefits.
The ABLEnow account was surprisingly easy to open. All we needed was a note from my son’s doctor verifying his disability, which we keep for our records. A few screens of information later and the account was all setup and ready to go. If you have a disability or know someone with a disability, I highly recommend having them check out ABLEnow to see if it is something that might be beneficial for them. To find out more about eligibility for ABLEnow, head HERE.
And if you do have an account or are going to open one make sure and enter this sweepstakes for your chance at $500 for your AbleNow savings account.
Wheelchair Clothing Patterns:
When you search the internet form wheelchair clothing patterns there isn’t much to choose from. There aren’t many resources for finding clothing patterns to create. And honestly there are only a handful of companies who are making adaptive clothing. Even then I have found that most of the adaptive clothing doesn’t always fit my son’s needs perfectly.
When I do find something that works it is only available in one color and finding the right size is certainly not guaranteed. So I usually take matters into my own hands to adapt pre-made clothing so that it works for wheelchair accessibility. So you can expect to see more projects and tutorials like this from me in the future!
No Sew (or low sew) Sweatshirt:
Why I made it:
With low muscle strength in the upper body it is very difficult to get a hooded sweatshirt onto my son. He can’t help with the sleeves so it is difficult to get his arms through and it is hard to get the sweatshirt to go all the way down his back without him leaning all the way over and kissing his knees.
What you need:
Snaps
Fusible Interfacing
Hem tape OR Sewing machine
Sweatshirt or shirt
What to do:
- Turn your sweatshirt inside out. Cut along the side seams. Continue cutting along the sleeve seam. You can cut all the way to the wrist or leave the wrist band in tact (this is the option that I chose in the video below.)
- Cut 2 1/2″ strips of a fusible interfacing. I used a firm craft interfacing so that I had a strong base for the next steps.
- Press the interfacing to the edges of the sweatshirt.
- Use hem tape to fold the raw edges under by 1/4″.
- OR Sew the raw edges under 1/4″ using a straight or a zig zag stitch.
- Attach snaps along the sides and up the sleeves.
Have questions about ABLEnow or this adaptive clothing for wheelchair users? Share with me in the comments below.
PIN Adaptive Clothing for Wheelchair Users:
ABLEnow sponsored this post. I have been compensated for this post. All ideas and opinions are my own. Read more about ABLEnow HERE.
Diana M Gildner says
Thank you for sharing.
sewwhatalicia says
Thanks for your comment Diana! I appreciate you taking the time to read the post and leave me your kind words! <3 Alicia
Rita Saumweber says
This is great! So easy and such a fun way to be sure our kids are
just as cool as their friends. 👍👏👍
sewwhatalicia says
Right? All the cool kids are wearing adaptive clothing! Thanks for your comment! <3 Alicia
Rusty says
Although I am fortunate enough not to need this type of clothing, I thank you for posting. I read it and at least now I can make a recommendation to someone who may have the need. Thank you for sharing.
sewwhatalicia says
Thank you Rusty. I appreciate you taking the time to read the post! Being aware and educated about the needs of those who are differently abled is the first step! I appreciate you <3 Alicia
Nancy Stone says
This is great, I used to do jeans and different styles of pants for an adult male and I used Velcro for the side seams. They looked just like any other pants.
Keep on sewing and teaching
sewwhatalicia says
Nancy, that is such a great idea! I plan to keep adding new adaptive projects for people! Thanks for sharing! <3 Alicia
Sue Gillming says
Thank you for this tutorial. It will make life much easier for me and more comfortable for my husband when trying to get a sweatshirt on him.
sewwhatalicia says
Sue, I am so glad that you found this helpful! I previously avoided sweatshirts because they were just so hard to get on to my son! Thanks for your comment!
mplemel says
Thank you so much for sharing, This has been very helpful information.
Sherri Katafias says
Interfacing questions. Did you use a craft Peltex style like you use in making bags/purses? And is it irritating to his skin at all?
Annaleis Hulina says
Thank you so much for sharing this! My neice is in a wheelchair and now I can make cute clothes/modify clothes for her, just like I do for her siblings. So excited to start sewing. 🙂
sewwhatalicia says
Yay I am so glad! This makes my heart super happy!! <3 Alicia
La Rue Siens says
Great idea! It’s amazing what ideas we can come up with when we need to alter for different surgeries people have had to endure or permanent disability. Good for you!
Tracy King says
Thank you! Using my sewing skills to be useful and helpful to the world is a goal I have set for myself. Now I have one more pattern and multiple ideas to use.
ceci says
I guess for a person who could not lean forward the shirt could be made basically with a back only down a bit below the back shoulder? It would be interesting to learn a bit more about options. I did make pants that opened down the side seams for my dad – snaps rather than velcro in that case.
ceci
sewwhatalicia says
Ceci, I am working on another video that would be perfect for someone who cannot lean forward. The hoody wouldn’t be my first choice for someone who cannot lean forward. Please stay tuned, I will be sharing that post in the next few weeks! I plan to share lots more tutorials like this. I really had no idea that it would be so popular! <3 Alicia
Hazelann says
Do you sell your patterns? Here in Scotland I am finding it almost impossible to find patterns for my disabled family members. Can you help or advise?
Thank you
Hazelann Alexander
sewwhatalicia says
I don’t. I know that this space is seriously lacking. I am trying to add more content for adaptive clothing. Sorry 🙁
jocelyn anderson says
Hi Alicia, I came upon your site because I am looking for adaptive clothing for my 5 year old grandson. He is profoundly disabled–physically and mentally. He is blind, has a feeding tube, low to no muscle tone, non verbal, and of course, cannot, nor ever will, walk. As he grows bigger in size, I have a very hard time changing him when I am watching him or taking him to a therapy. My daughter buys regular clothes for him, but it breaks my heart how hard he cries when I try to take the shirt off him, over his head (His head is also very big for his size). His hands clench and he tightens his arms, and it is nearly impossible to get his hands through the shirt. He cannot sit upright, so the dead weight of lifting him and pulling down his shirt, or pulling on his pants is exhausting. There is not much out there in adaptive clothing for little boys. I want to make him soft pants that have side zippers down the legs she he can still lie flat while I dress him, or sweat shirts that velcro shut in the back or front so he doesn’t have to end up screaming in dismay when dressed. I will look over your website and try some of your ideas. Thank you
Conny says
Jocelyn,
Your story sound a lot like mine. I was thinking it was mine, … but realised that there are some slight differences.
All the best for your grandson and your family,
Conny
Conny says
Adaptive clothing tutorials are hard to find.
Thank you very much!
Mary says
Thank you for the tutorials and ideas for changing existing clothing into adaptive clothing. My husband needs adaptive clothing so I appreciate you addressing this topic.
Deb Sharpe says
I came across this blog looking for ideas for my 85 y/o aunt who is recently wheelchair bound. If you have basic measurements and a sewing machine, there is an open source pattern drafting group called Seamly Me/Seamly 2D. So far, I am making a couple of overlapping back dresses that snap at the shoulders. Even the most basic pattern can then be dressed up or down depending on your fabric choice. Next is trying to get some of her pants from her to make diapers/toileting easier. Best wishes everyone!
Liz says
I am excited to try this for both my elderly mother-in-law who now requires adaptive clothing and for my sister, who is wheelchair-bound. Thanks for the tips!
Beatriz says
Muy bello proyecto.La felicito.
Soy de Chile y me dedico a prendas para discapacidad y accesorios.
Draco Black says
This is wonderful. As a Adult who uses a wheelchair it is always so hard for me to find adaptable clothing. While Target has started catoring to children with Disabilities nothing has really gone to the young adult catigory. so even though u do this for your son i can use this to better modify my own clothing. Thank you.
sewwhatalicia says
I am so glad that you found value in this! If you have more clothing you want to adapt I am happy to try and come up with some ideas!! <3 <3