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>> Dressing and undressing <<
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Hood first
My daughter had problems putting on her coat until I taught her to put the hood on first, then slip her arms in. That way her coat is always the right way round and she doesn't get frustrated.
Its a wrap!
For someone of any age a “haramaki” (belly wrap) is brilliant, especially for people with less movement. By keeping your middle warm your whole body warms very effectively. It is easy to get on over or under clothing and more comfortable than bulky layers.It stretches with you which is great for people sitting in chairs.
Ski trousers
Ski trousers are great for wheelchair users. For extra warmth, put thermal long johns underneath.
Dressability
Dressability provides clothing alteration and dressmaking service to people with special needs.
Sleepsuits
I highly recommend the strong comfortable handmade sleepsuits from KC sleepsuits. My daughter's have lasted for three years; adjustable ties to stop removal, very strong and you can order them 'miles to big' because of the elasticated leg. Also Abena have good sleepwear for children and adults to prevent fiddling with pads.
Trendy elasticated trousers
Thrilled to find trendy elasticated trousers (needed for dressing & loo) for Matthew from George/Asda. Trousers
Make familiar
Sometimes it helps if people are exposed to clothing for a few weeks before they are required to wear it. Just having it around, seeing, smelling, feeling it may all have to come before wearing it.
Crop top bra
A hook-less crop top bra may be easier to put on independently if the girl or woman you are caring for finds fiddly bra clasps too difficult.
Knees up
People with tense leg muscles can find it hard to separate their legs to put trousers on. Encourage or help them to lie down, keep their legs together and bend their knees up. This can often help to relax them.
Alternative to tracksuit bottoms
John struggles with fastenings and finding smart trousers with an elasticated waist is a challenge. In the end, we found some black chef’s trousers on eBay, which look smart and can be pulled on and off.
Work backwards
A great way to teach people the basics of dressing themselves is to work backwards, eg first teach them to put on their shoes. Once they've got this, reward them and then teach putting on socks and then shoes. It can take a while but worth the end result. This technique can be used for almost any routined learning.
Giving choices
My 4 year old son who has autism is often resistant to putting on certain items of clothing so instead of trying to get him to wear something I give him a choice of 3 items. This ensures that he feels he has made a choice and is in control of the situation.
Knickers - which way round?
After a certain age, girls’ underwear doesn’t always have a picture or bow at the front. I use a laundry marker pen to draw a pretty bow or smiley face to show which is the front.
Lay out the clothes
Getting ready in the morning has always been very difficult for my son. I decided to prepare all his clothes in advance and to put them on the floor in a way it represent a body, with jumper shirt, underwear, trousers and socks in a man shape, and it works! My son told me "well now at least I finally know what you want" YES!!!!!
Home uniform
My son refused to get dressed when it wasn't a school day - he'd stay in his PJs all the time. So, I decided as he was OK with his school uniform I'd get him a 'home uniform' - 7 pairs of jogging bottoms in navy and 7 tops in light blue (blue being the favourite colour). This worked a treat!
Buy bigger clothes
Beth is difficult to dress so I buy her clothes one size too big. Tights and socks are tricky – a couple of sizes too big make life easier for her.
Use visual storyboards
Create visual storyboards showing different types of weather and appropriate clothing for each. This can help the person you are caring for choose the most appropriate clothing
Dressing for the weather
Picked this up via Twitter but strikes me as being a handy tool for folk with learning disabilities. iDress for weather
Socks made easier
We buy socks with coloured heels to help John get them the right way round. Trainer socks are even easier for self dressing, for example for a PE lesson.
Pyjamas
My son has sensory issues with different materials, so he wears his pyjama bottoms under his trousers. He feels happier keeping them on, so we just let him.
Happier shopping
Once you’ve found a style and a shop which suits the person, stick with it. Internet shopping is also a life saver for someone who dislikes shopping or cannot cope with change.
Organise the wardrobe
I divide my son's wardrobe and drawers into different sections: school, going out and scruffy jobs. Now he can decide what to wear himself and he doesn't get nagged by me for putting his best clothes on to wash the car.
Reminder chart
We put a big colourful picture chart on Beth’s wardrobe door, reminding her only of the things she forgets to do (not all the processes of getting dressed etc). This saves many journeys up and down the stairs.
Stop losing things
We printed off some clip art pictures, mounted and laminated them and put them on a metal ring. We decide each morning what prompt cards are needed and we attach them to Beth’s bag. At the end of the day, the cards are checked. The number of lost cardigans and PE kit has dramatically reduced this year.
Finding your feet
John has a visual impairment and developmental delays and isn’t normally interested in his feet. One day we ran out of white and blue socks so I put a red pair on him and lifted up his feet for him to see. He smiled and giggled. Now we only put him in bright coloured socks.
Fabric conditioner smooths the way
If someone has trouble putting their socks on, using a good fabric conditioner makes the socks much stretchier and more flexible so far easier to put on.
Line up your shirt buttons
Put the unbuttoned shirt down on a table with the front lined up correctly. On the button side, choose the button nearest the lower chest or tummy and draw a thick line with a laundry marker between the button and the edge of the shirt. This won't be seen when the shirt is fastened. On the corresponding buttonhole, fold the shirt back slightly and draw another thick line. Now it’s easy to match up the marks, fasten that button first and the rest seem to fall into place.
Mornings made easier
We set up a PECS strip attached to the bathroom door with a picture for each activity and a ‘what you are doing now’ place. After each activity (undress, wash, get dressed etc) John takes the picture off and puts it in the pot below. We were surprised at how quickly he picked this up. Even when he doesn’t want to do something (he grumbles a lot), if it’s on the PECS board he’ll do it.
Trouser trouble
When putting on trousers, put socks on first. It helps you slide into trouser legs much more easily.
Keep your balance
Sit the person on the floor or on a low stool to help them remain stable. They can concentrate on undressing without worrying about falling or losing their balance.
Troublesome buttons
Try and buy dresses that button up the front as they are so much easier to put on.
Cleaning velcro
Use a barbeque brush with short wire bristles to clean the hook side of Velcro. Sellotape just doesn’t work.
Which arm first?
Right from early on I've always put Bobby's right arm in his jacket first and now he's in the habit of doing it himself. It’s easier than putting the left in first.
Jazz up a collar
If you have a collar to support his or her neck and you want to jazz it up a bit, cut the foot out of a colourful sock and pop it on. You can even match with what he or she is wearing
Persistence pays off....
When John gets dressed we praise him at each stage to encourage him and so he knows he has got it right. It takes patience but it’s amazing what someone can do if you keep insisting.
In the right order
When I help Pete to dress I say “one leg in, two legs in” for trousers and the same for arms when putting tops on. The reverse can be used for undressing.
Make undressing easier....
Undressing can be less stressful if you do it earlier when the person is less tired. A bath before tea and a dressing-gown could be better than staying in uniform or day clothes until later.
Choose the right garments
Zip-up cardigans are easier to cope with than buttons, and school skirts are easier than pinafores.
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