Why you should listen
Mindy Scheier’s career path took a new direction when her son Oliver, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy that causes physical disabilities, wanted to wear jeans to school like his friends. She used her background in design to adapt a pair that not only met his needs but increased his confidence. She soon realized that millions of people around the globe were also struggling to access fashionable clothing and went on to conduct extensive research and focus groups with people of all abilities to better understand the challenges faced by the community. She used her experience in fashion to develop modifications — including magnetic closures, adjustability of waistbands, pant and sleeve lengths and alternative ways to get in and out of the clothing — to meet a wide variety of needs within the differently-abled community. After pounding the fashion pavement, Runway of Dreams collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger on the first ever-mainstream adaptive clothing line for kids in Spring 2016.
Scheier’s work with Runway of Dreams Foundation expands beyond adaptive clothing. Founded on the basis that clothing is a basic human need, the Runway of Dreams Foundation develops, delivers and supports initiatives to broaden the reach of mainstream adaptive clothing and promote the differently-abled community in the fashion industry. Through adaptive clothing donations, employment opportunity initiatives, adaptive design workshops, awareness building campaigns and scholarships programs, the Runway of Dreams Foundation is empowering people with disabilities with opportunity, confidence, independence and style. Envisioning a world where fashion is mainstream and accessible for all, Scheier continues to break down barriers and challenge industry norms.
Nearly one in five people in the U.S. identify as having a disability, but it can be difficult for people with disabilities to find clothing that is both stylish and meets their needs. NewsHour Weekend’s Megan Thompson reports on the fashion industry’s moves toward accessible fashion, from Parson’s Open Style Lab, a training program for designers, to Tommy Hilfiger, the first major designer to launch a line for people with disabilities.
Being with and around disabled people
Para sport terminology guide – Paralympics New Zealand
Assistance: If you see a situation that you think requires it, offer assistance, but remember it will not always be accepted. You should always ask if an individual would like assistance before rushing in and imposing yourself on them. Your help may not be required. However, don’t feel awkward about offering to help, it is perfectly polite and acceptable to do so. Also, if your assistance is declined on one occasion, do not be offended or put off asking in the future. It is the same as if you were asking an able-bodied person if they want help – they might not.
Communication: Always speak directly with the person rather than their companion, assistant or interpreter. Remember to use your usual manner and speak in your normal tone – a physically disabled person does not necessarily have a hearing or intellectual impairment so be aware that you could sound condescending.
Behave naturally: For example, shake hands with a disabled person as you would any other person, even if they are wearing a prosthesis or have limited movement of their hand or arm.
Everyday phrases: There is no need to feel self-conscious about using everyday phrases. Some everyday phrases are perfectly acceptable; i.e. some people who use wheelchairs will state themselves ‘I’m going for a walk’. It is also perfectly acceptable to say to a visually impaired person ‘I will see you later’. Using common sense, everyday phrases of this kind are most unlikely to cause any offence.
Behaviour related to impairment groups
Communication impairment:
- Be aware that some disabled people may have additional preferred methods of communicating and respect their requirements. They may need more time, use electronic devices, and require Braille or other tools to assist them in communication
- For specific information, ask the individual (if this is unsuccessful) ask their permission to speak with their sport assistant, parent or carer.
- Demonstrate what you mean if you are not getting the message across successfully verbally
- Do not interrupt, correct, speak for the athlete or finish sentences for them.
Intellectual impairment:
- If you are talking to someone with an intellectual impairment, always use simple, plain language and give them time to answer your questions. Tell the person if you did not quite understand what was said and ask them to repeat what they have said, rather than letting them believe that you have understood them
- Do not interrupt, correct, speak for the athlete or finish sentences for them
- You may need to use more gestures/pictures if you are not getting the message across successfully verbally.
Visual impairment:
- When talking to a person who has visual impairment, always identify yourself and others in your group
- It is very important to provide verbal descriptions of visual things that are happening
- Never pat or touch a guide dog while it is in the harness – just ignore it. The animal is working when it is in the harness. It has a very important job to do and distracting it may harm its owner
- Announce both your entrance and departure or exit from a room
- Let the person know if an obstacle is present that cannot be detected with their stick
- When you offer to guide a person with visual impairment allow him/her to take your arm
- If you assist a person to find a seat, guide him/her there and place the person’s hand on the back or arm of the chair.
Wheelchairs users:
- Be aware that a wheelchair is part of a person’s personal space so do not lean on it or hold on to it unless of course offered permission to do so
- Place yourself at eye level with the wheelchair user, by sitting down next to them
- Do not patronise a person who uses a wheelchair by patting him/her on the head or shoulders
- It is perfectly acceptable to offer to help guide the wheelchair or negotiate obstacles such as doors or steep inclines. But only push someone’s wheelchair if they have requested your help
If in doubt, ask. If you are unsure of what to do in a particular situation, ask.
