Dressing

Children and young people with hemiplegia, just like any other children, vary in their desire for independence.

Encouraging independence

Those who want to dress themselves from an early age should be encouraged. It is often tempting for a carer to help, particularly when in a hurry, and this can become a habit, so it is very important to allow extra time for daily routines.

It is more difficult when a child is perfectly happy to let someone else dress them, and can see no point in trying if someone else can do it better than them. Sometimes it is worth enlisting the help of a Physio or OT to try and motivate the child by setting small attainable goals, and to help with sequencing by breaking down the task into smaller parts.

Many children have emotional and behavioural problems and/or problems with short term memory. A professional can get them dressing independently sooner than a parent/carer attempting it on their own. At nursery or school, well-meaning teachers and helpers and a lack of time can get in the way of independence, but you can talk this problem over with them.

General suggestions

Keep everything, particularly tops, as big as possible. When putting on tops put the affected arm in the sleeve first. Obviously the fewer fastenings to close, the better, so jumpers/sweatshirts are better than cardigans (but make sure the hole for the head is not too tight). Where possible, replace buttons with poppers or Velcro. Sometimes tops can tend to slip off the shoulder on the affected side but tightening the cuffs may help prevent them falling off completely.

Coats, jackets, anoraks and blazers often have to have the sleeve or cuff on the affected side shortened. Toggles and poppers are easier to manage than ordinary buttons, and poppers or Velcro can be added to zipped jackets. Popper kits, which require no sewing, are widely available from haberdashery departments.

School uniforms

Trousers should have elasticated waists, as flies are difficult to do up, as is the top clip or button. Trutex supply trousers for girls, sizes 20-32 inch waist.

Trutex Direct, Taylor St, Clitheroe,
Lancashire, BB7 1NL.
Tel: 0870 414 0000
Web: www.trutex.com

Pull-on trousers with false flies are also available from some school outfitters. If you cannot find them locally, Kevin’s keep a stock and will happily post them to you. They also supply school trousers for boys up to a 28" waist, in a variety of styles and colours.

Kevin’s,
17 The Broadway, Greenford,
Middlesex, UB6 9PH.
Tel: 020 8578 1210

Hansel and Gretel supplies clothing for girls and boys and will alter clothing to suit needs.

Hansel and Gretel, Buckthorns, Upper Largo,
Fife, KY8 6EA.
Tel: 01333 360219
Email: info@hansel-and-gretel.co.uk
Web: www.hansel-and-gretel.co.uk

BHS have school uniform trousers up to size 36ins waist, in dark & light grey, which are designed to be pulled on although they have a zip fly. BHS also stock tailored black trousers with elasticated waists in their ladies section.

Ties can be tied then cut at the centre-back and a section of elastic inserted so that they can be pulled on over the head. If a plain tie is needed, many men’s clothing/suit retailers supply clip-on ties.

Meech’s Menswear (J.H. Meech and Son Ltd) has a wide range of ties and offers 48hr delivery. Prices vary. They will alter existing ties or if you have a specific design (e.g. school tie) they will be happy to help.

Meech’s Menswear, 103/104 St Mary Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8NY.
Tel / Fax: 01305 771224
Email: jh@meechs.co.uk
Web: www.meechs.co.uk

Filaspun will also alter existing ties by inserting clips. Prices range from £0.50 to £1.75 for each tie, plus p&p.

Filaspun, 1 Parkwood Street, Keighley,
W. Yorks, BD21 4QR.
Tel: 01535 210426

General clothes

Tops and Shirts can have Velcro or poppers sewn behind the front button stand. Cuff buttons can be attached with elastic, so that they don't need to be undone each time. Also refer back to the General Suggestions at the beginning of the leaflet.

Mittens are easier than gloves. To avoid loss, you can use the traditional elastic threaded through the arms of the child's coat/jacket, or you might like to try glove clips to attach the mittens/gloves to their respective cuff. These are available from Great Little Trading:

Great Little Trading,
Tel: 0870 850 6000
Email: cat@gltc.co.uk
Web: www.gltc.co.uk

Socks are easier to pull on if the carer turns them inside out and pushes the toe back in towards the top. Some children have had success with the various aids available from catalogues such as:

Ways and Means (part of the company Nottingham Rehab Supplies), Findel House, Excelsior Road, Leicestershire, LE65 1NG.
Tel: 0845 606 0911

Many children find thick sports socks easiest to pull on. Since children and young people with hemiplegia often have impaired balance, rubber-studded socks can help prevent them slipping over when running around with no shoes on. These are widely available from department stores and Boots (www.boots.com).

Aids and equipment to help with dressing

There are many pieces of equipment that might be of some help to some children. For example a Dressing Stick to hook on a coat/jacket to help get it over the shoulder, pullers to attach to zips, and button hooks. These are available in many specialist mail-order catalogues including Ways and Means. You can also use a shoelace threaded through the zip as an improvised zip puller.

Alterations and specialist suppliers

A lot of people overlook this possibility but launderettes and dry cleaners will do alterations for you cheaply and professionally.

A charity called Friends of Fashion Services for disabled people offers alterations to existing clothes to suit your needs. They also sell a range of clothing for all ages, and can design clothing for you from scratch (both casual and formal). Prices vary.

Friends of Fashion Services for disabled people
The Greenfield Centre, Green Lane, Baildon, BD17 5JS
Tel / Fax: 01274 597487
Email: fofs@proweb.co.uk

Clever Care is a new company which sells specialist clothing. At present its range is limited but will improve. Prices vary.

Clever Care, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 0DH
Tel: 01743 791888
Fax: 01743 791272
Email: heather@clevercare.co.uk
Web: www.clevercare.co.uk

The charity AWEAR offers advice to disabled people on clothing and where to buy it.
Tel: 0115 9530439
Web: www.awear.org.uk

The Red Cross has a catalogue called Ability which offers a range of clothing as well as a wide variety of aids. You can request a copy via phone or fax.
Tel: 0870 739 7391
Fax: 0116 254 5979

See also HemiHelp information on Equipment, Shoes and Shoe lacing.