5 Fun DIY Clothing Hacks (For Better Accessibility)

We all know that with the ever-evolving fashion landscape, looking your best can be a pain. As clothing seems to get fiddlier, fussier and more frustrating, it’s easy to become more and more disenchanted with the sartorial world - particularly if you have a limited range of mobility to deal with.

We’ve found some ways to ease your daily dressing - here’s our collection of inexpensive and easy DIY projects, tricks and hacks.

1. Grip a tricky zip - and add some custom flair!
   
   

    

Slip a pendant or charm onto the hole of your zipper with a keyring.

Not only is this quick method great for making a larger zipper pull, but you can give any drab jacket a cute feature, too!

2. Pull up pants easily

Make high-waisted pants (or even hipster pants) easy to put on by attaching fabric loops to the inside of the waistband.

If you’re not good at sewing, fabric glue is an easy alternative.

3. Create glittens - convertable gloves

Unusual and functional (and less uncool than zip-off pants!), these are great for winter days when you have to access your phone, but taking off and putting gloves back on is a hassle.

You can customize an existing pair of gloves (just cut the fingers off), or you can make these from scratch with this pattern.

4. Never struggle with buttons again…

Stick velcro behind your buttons! Even if you don’t struggle with tiny shirt buttons, getting them all even on the first go is still not always easy.

You can use felt instead of the soft part of the velcro for less bulk.

5. ...Or with laces!

Use an elasticated cord to lace your shoes, and never have to deal with tying and untying and knots and bows and all that trouble.

Now you have perfectly chic slip-on sneakers!

Will you be trying these out? Let us know how it goes!


Art by Jessica

Inspiring model with a difference

Madeline Stuart has recently burst into stardom in the fashion world. She’s modelled in a photoshoot for Manifesta’s fitness clothing line and has a limited edition handbag created by EverMaya in her name called ‘The Madeline’. She has appeared in a photoshoot for Triple L Designs and is the face of GlossiGirl Cosmetics. Maddy has graced the articles of many well-known names such as People, Daily Mail,Cosmopolitan and more.

A wholehearted 18 year old from Brisbane Australia, she got dedicated to a healthy lifestyle over a year ago and lost 20 kg’s in the process. Her before and after photos went viral around the world, she also dazzled the world with her long flowing red locks and gorgeous smile. 

Madeline is not just your average model, she’s spirited and pleasant and just happens to have the condition, Down syndrome. She is the world’s very first professional adult model with the condition to be signed to a modelling agency.

She’s set to walk the ramp for New York Fashion Week on 10^th of September, the 2^nd model with the condition to strut down the catwalk, after Jamie Brewer. The fashion world is slowly becoming more inclusive with models such as Tess Holiday, an American plus-size model, Chantelle Brown-Young, a model with the skin condition vitiligo and Melanie Gaydo, who has ectodermal pysplasi, having broken into modelling with an impact.

Madeline has become an online sensation in both the fashion and inclusive world, since launching her social media pages 3 months ago, with over 460 000 fans on Facebook and thousands of Instagram followers. And that number is most likely to climb even higher! Maddy who is said to love the camera ‘’ is on a mission to help change the way people look at and discriminate against disability through social media’’, according to her mother.

She has been nominated for the young Australian of the Year award and Pride of Australia. Madeline is to be presented as Model of the Year at Melange 2015, which is the biggest diversified fashion show in the States.

Back home she has her supportive boyfriend, Robbie and when not hanging out with him, her friends or mum, she can be found dancing with her dance troupe.

She’s an inspiration to all and proves that dreams do come true. A young woman who we can trust to make a mark in the world for the better. 

All about South Africa's Casual Day

Casual Day is the country’s leading fundraiser for persons with disabilities. The day has been celebrated on the first Friday of each September since the year 1995. This year it falls on Friday the 4^th in the spring month of September. You too can partake in this worthy cause by buying a sticker from participating stores or NGO’S for only R10. There are 5 different stickers to buy this year, making a colourful collection. The theme for 2015 are all things spring – so dress up and think flowers, butterflies, bugs, Hawaiian t-shirts and more! Spring into Action.

Vanessa du Plessis leads the pack as project leader of Casual Day and happily gave some information about the yearly fundraiser.

What inspired the concept of Casual Day?

The National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in SA, launched Casual Day along with a group of national organisations representing various disabilities with a view to becoming financially sustainable. The list of partners have grown to an exciting variety of 12 organisations - South African National Council for the Blind, South African Federation for Mental Health, Deaf Federation of South Africa, Autism South Africa, Down Syndrome South Africa, National Association for Persons with Cerebral Palsy, South African National Deaf Association, National Institute for the Deaf, Alzheimer’s South Africa, QuadPara Association of South Africa and the South African Disability Alliance.

The concept revolves around choosing a theme for the year and raising donations via a sticker. The idea is to devise a campaign where the public can dress up, but that also carries a deeper message of the project, hence Spring into Action – for persons with disabilities. By allowing donors to create their own interpretation of the theme ensures passion from all participants. The concept is also broad enough to appeal to children and adults from all walks of life.

Last year the project raised R28 million for persons with disabilities, bringing the total over 20 years to R222 million!

How are the Casual Day ambassadors chosen?

Casual Day ambassadors are all volunteers who have expressed an interest in self-advocacy. Goodwill Ambassadors are chosen because they:

- Demonstrate an active commitment to the promotion of disability awareness.

- Exemplify good citizenship and are passionate, courageous, inspiring, caring, principled,  credible and capable of acting as influential advocates for disability.

- Demonstrate leadership in their professions and a willingness to use their professional prestige and networks to promote the cause of disability.

- Represent positive role models for young people in particular.

- Are articulate and genuinely interested in the issues and willing to learn more through briefings and field visits, sometimes those involving difficult circumstances.

- Ability to reach specific audiences, including young people. Factors such as age, current following and previous work are considered.

- Reputation and integrity. Casual Day looks for individuals who share the same goals and ideals.

Are there any plans for the future of Casual Day?

Casual Day is in its 21^st year and I have recently come on board to devise new and exciting ways to ensure the projects sustainability into the future. Without letting go of what was successful in the past – the sticker, the theme and the raising of donations directly from the public – we will be looking at extending the brand into other areas. Watch this space for exciting developments!

How did you get involved with the Casual Day project?

I was recruited by the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in SA, the owner of Casual Day. As the Public Relations Officer and later Deputy Executive Director of the National Council for the Blind, I was involved in the project as one of the national beneficiaries during the projects’ inception in the 90s. It was natural fit for me to come full circle to take on a major fundraising project for the disability sector.

What feelings does being project leader bring out in you?

While working with South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), I was fortunate to participate in Project Renewal identifying the ‘poorest of the poor’ of blind citizens to ensure SANCB was meeting their needs. This was a pivotal life changing experience.

With over 20 years’ experience in the fundraising space, I relish this opportunity to ensure the sustainability of one of the best-loved brands in South Africa. It is a challenge for me because its funding model is unique. It does not fit within the traditional fundraising model where, for example, the donor pool includes only big corporate, government departments and high net worth individuals who bequeath money to organisations. Casual Day raises funds from the general public and has become one of the most established and well-loved brands in South Africa, raising donations from around 2.5 million South Africans.

In your own words how would you describe Casual Day and what the project entails?

It is a massive undertaking as we market and dispatch millions of items each year from our warehouse in Edenvale – sometimes 2000 parcels go to our participants. Our task is much more than selling stickers and merchandise.

At the core of the organisation is creating awareness of the human rights of persons with disabilities – 365 days a week. With the world economy in turmoil, there is a decline in funding for public benefit organisations from corporations and government departments. We must apply our minds to enterprise development and job creation for persons with disabilities and promote their independence from the need for funding. We can only do this by ensuring education and economic upliftment for persons with disabilities.

It is very important that we communicate the social impact of the funds. Each of the national beneficiaries and the 300 schools for learners with disabilities that raise funds through Casual Day have their own story to tell.

The National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in SA runs a range of projects and programmes, including the Children’s Programme, which has wrapped up a major research project to identify the status quo of children with disabilities. Results show that the majority of children with disabilities are outside of the school system. Another programme focuses on the provision of specialised wheelchairs to children as there is a huge need for wheelchairs for children with multi-disabilities, meaning children with more than one disability as would be the case in a child with cerebral palsy. A major focus of NCPPDSA is also the accessibility of public buildings and transport.

Casual Day is a fun concept but its underlying concept is a very serious one.

6 awesome ways to look dashing on wheels

Looking good is not only for the ladies. The men can also roll out in confidence, looking dashing and snazzy. Along with specially adapted clothing you can buy regular to suit your needs. Read on for the ultimate tips on how to achieve comfort and style.

Boxers or Briefs

This are an important part of clothing yet no one will see them. Boxers made of cotton material with a stretchy elastic bands are the most comfortable. If you are prone to your back stick to your chair on those hot days, wearing a super light under shirt can help to avoid that from happening.

Sleeve length

Pay attention to the length of your sleeves so as to avoid them being too long and getting stuck in the spokes of your wheels. However you your sleeves should still come down to the end of your arm. Another tip would be to roll up your shirts.

Coats and Jackets

Buy short coats and jackets so as to not sit on the coat-tail when sitting in your chair.

Jeans and Khakis

Wear jeans/khakis that are either casual or smart with a good corresponding colour of shoes. The hem line of your pants should cover the socks you are wearing.

Suits

Every man should own a suit! Have a two-piece suit, where your jacket closes comfortably and your pants fit perfectly. Keep a couple stylish ties handy for when needed and you can use a tie tack to keep it in place. Dress your suit with a great pair of shoes and you’ll be ready to cruise looking smart.

Accessorize smart

If buying watches and rings, make sure you invest in ones that won’t easily be scratched. Or why not get yourself an old school pocket watch that radiates both style and class?

Roll in style, looking and feeling good, gentlemen :)

7 great ways for ladies to roll in style

Clothing for women in wheelchairs needs to be both comfortable and easy to get in and out of, yet why lose out on the stylish factor? Here is a list of ways to cruise in your wheels with some flair.

Show off your Shoulders

Exposing your shoulders can add a little of a flirty style. Perfect for the ladies. Wear a tank top, a one-strapped shoulder top or a top where your shoulders just show a sneaky peek.

Highlight your Waist

Adding a belt to your pretty loose skirt or dress will accentuate your waist. Wear thin ones to the more daring wider ones. The wider the belt the more corset like it will appear.

             Make your Torso appear longer

Buy your tops a couple of inches longer than you would actually need for it to fit. This will help to create the impression that your torso is longer than it actually is. However do make sure that the top is not loose as it will make you appear heavier. A glittery long top with plain thin pants or a skirt would look especially stylish for nights out.

             Wear printed Leggings

Why not get some bold printed leggings and match it with a plain long top or wear them under a pretty dress? It’s a fun and adventurous style! Or go with solid colour or neutral colour leggings.

            Beautiful Skirts

To make dressing the easiest, buy skirts that button up in the front or wrap-around skirts. They can first be laid on the wheelchair before sitting on it then doing it up.

             Lady Bras

A bra that fastens in the front is the easiest but don’t worry, a back-fastening bra can still be worn. Put it on at waist level, fasten it at the front, then move it round and pull it up into position.

                    Have fun and Accessorize

Add some fun to your outfit with jewellery, scarves or hats. Do your make-up in various styles, the classic smoky eyes, use colours suited to your look, or go for a more natural look.

There are various online clothing stores which make clothes particularly for people in wheelchairs, both men and women. Don’t lose out on dressing in style and feeling pretty in what you’re wearing because you are in a wheelchair.

Happy rolling ladies :)