How adaptive clothing empowers people with disabilities | Mindy Scheier 

This crucial idea to not make this project a seclusive brand but to introduce the adaptibility to mainstream fashion is what made this exceptionally awesome. This is the only way to real inclusion and empowerment. Thank you Mindy Scheier and everybody involved or backing this.

This is so beautiful and heartbreaking. I may have no interest in fashion but after what she said even I can understand how important what you wear really is.

I am a stroke survivor, and wear a leg brace on my left side. I find shoe shopping so depressing. I can only wear new balance sneakers; because they have a wide toed shoes. I so wish someone could come up with something cute to wear with my brace. I personally hate wearing sneakers with a skirt. I wish there was something out there I could wear to make myself feel sexy wearing a skirt in the summer! I also can’t wear heels! Even though I never wore them before, but it does matter that the shoes I wear with the outfit I wear matters !! Please help ! I love this video!! You go girl!!!

Being an individual with special needs (I was born with Spina Bifida) this video just hit home for me with such force. I actually just started creating content here on youtube at the beginning of January. Reason being, when I was 8 I attended a summer camp for children with medical special needs of all sorts. It liberated me. Instead of having people around me that questioned within themselves what I was capable of doing, I had counselors at the camp asking me what I was interested in doing and they made sure there were resources available for me to try my hand at anything and everything I could think of. I am now 33. I am in the process of developing a nonprofit summer camp just like the one I went to as a kid. I decided to take on the endeavor of youtube in hopes that once I got enough subscribers and I had enough content that I might be able to monetize the content and the money I make from RU-vid will go toward helping me further the process of developing the camp. Once the camp is funded and built I will continue to upload to youtube and use it as my source of income, because I do not believe in taking a paycheck from a nonprofit that I am the founder of. I do plan on being the Director of the camp so that I will have daily involvement in it because I miss that environment. My content will ultimately be heavily targeted toward the special needs community, but hopefully, it will end up appealing to everyone, or at the very least teaching and entertaining everyone, regardless of if they are a special needs individual or not. Thank you for posting this video. I needed to see this. -Ryan

I work in a group home with adults with disabilities, and I've seen how clothing can empower them. Most of them are nonverbal, but that doesn't mean they don't have autonomy over their lives. There's a woman with cerebral palsy who always makes sure you tuck her blouse over the seatbelt on her chair so that there's one less barrier that people see. She's 72, and she's dyed her hair pink and purple before to express her amazing bubbly personality. Seeing my quadriplegic client get to choose small things like what t shirt he wants to wear today can make a huge difference in his mood. Another one of my guys loves fashion. He has 30 different pairs of sunglasses, and a very impressive bow tie collection. Many of the individuals I work with aren't able to express themselves with words, or even common body language. But they can express themselves through their style. And as I dress them in the morning, I see them in a very vulnerable state. Often times, while they're being changed, the staff member does what's easiest for them. But allowing the individuals to have the choice to wear what makes them feel good, despite their disability, can be very empowering. Thank you for this talk and bringing light onto something that often flies under the radar.

I am disabled. This is wonderful. Thank u

I've seen a lot of great TED talks, but I think this was one of the most moving. Thank you for sharing with us, Mindy.

your story made me cry....and thank you very much.

Yeah!!! definitely needed and I glad it is addressed.

Brilliant. Well done her, I really hope it builds and builds. Loved the clothes she wore too.

Great work!, good to know that you are addressing this very important issue

This is amazing work!! Thank you for your efforts and creating real change!! Also, I couldn't help but notice that you're outfit looks amazing!! ❤

Bravo to this mom❗️She took action to make a real change. This was so heartbreaking, yet inspiring 🌟

Appreciate your efforts miss..

Love! This is the thing that shows how resilient we are. Take your circumstances and run your race!

I love this woman, she's a superhero mum. 👏👏👏👍👍👍

Awesome talk!!! Thank you for sharing !!! Amazing woman !!!

This is amazing. Thank you for the inspiration; sometimes we just take little things in life for granted, like wearing our favorite clothes.

I feel so sad after watch that video ..This woman so BEAUTIFUL human ⚘♥️ Thank you Tad talks..

A good way to make stuff like this mainstream is television shows. If characters on tv wore adaptive clothing, people would follow that trend.

Amazing Fashion! Adaptive Clothing! Thanks Mindy Scheier!

I would like to offer Cat & Jack some inspiration. My son is a cardiac transplant child. Anyone with a GJ tube child knows the struggle of finding pieces to properly fit their child and the need for ease of access. If Cat & Jack are listening - Children with heart issues have tachypnea and heat intolerance. Cat & Jack - many of our disabled are home and have tracheotomies! Start making items that snap all the way in the front but for Toddler sizes 2t, 3t, 4t, 5t etc.. Make the neck line large enough to fit a trach. Have buttons going down the front. There is a company called 'Tummy tunnels'. You can size each clothing piece for a GJ tube. Offer a free sample of Calmaceptine, I am sure that company will be more than happy to help partner to help parents keep their child's G or GJ tube stomas clean. In exchange, they could provide some funds as a tax write off and partner up with your company. Clean G/GJ tube awareness. My son is almost 2 and 0 granulation with my 'butt floss' technique of cleaning that stoma. Carters makes light weight front snapping short sleeve onsies but only up until 24 months. I personally keep the buttons open where the stoma is to ensure it's not bulging out or nudged on anything. Parents need quick access. So why not make short sleeved t shirts with snap buttons going all the way down to the end along with a hole (inspired by Tummy tunnel) so we the parents can see the GJ tube and ensure it's not bulging out???? No parent with a kid with a trach wants to struggle putting shirts over these kids' heads. My son was decannulated fortunately but many children aren't. If a transplant child - it's a struggle to get the kids out of the house. These children also cannot take Nsaids which is a superior fever reducer due to kidney levels. Hence, stuck with Tylonel. Therefore, light weight clothing is imperative. So please start making short sleeve rompers that which size up to size 8 in boyswww.carters.com/carters-baby.../V_16235810.html... Here is an example. Slap a tummy tunnel on the side. My son is wheel chair bound as are many kids. Statistically, male children are in need of GJ tube and have heart issues more so than females therefore - it doesn't make sense to me there are more choices for girls! Skip the collar for boys. It just makes the kids hotter. This simplistic idea would serve a huge demographic. Also - apply same concept to basic T shirts all the way to size 8. Most kids who make it that long can walk by then. You could offer selections on Target's website - 'Clothing for kids with trach' make them deep V neck - Children with G/Gj tube - Kids with both trach and G or GJ tube. I seriously have 0 clue why makers of clothing for kids with disabilities over look kids with trachs and GJ tube and comprehend simple snaps with a hole on the side large enough for a GJ or G tube priced reasonably is over looked. As someone who has been to 5 different ICU's it's shameful we haven't come up with a solution. If I knew how to sew, I could make it myself. Would be more than happy to explain the design concept to any member of your team to work with your staff to serve these children. It would even serve some adults. Remember - most parents of children with disabilities receive social security disability checks and want the best for their children so it's not as if you would not make $$ serving this population. Getting in touch with MMA companies and making your item DME 'reason cited is to avoid GJ tubes from coming out' which falls under 'preventative measures' would help spread the word. Meeting with local hospital administrators would also get the word spread. I truly hope someone from your staff actually listens! Statistically, you're working against yourself not serving male children!

This is my favorite TED Talk. I wish more people thought this way, and made these efforts.

Truly inspirational!!!!!

thank you so much Mindy Scheier for improving the quality of life for the unfortunate.

Our exact circumstance, only my oldest son is affected. He's 35 - zero interest in fashion for all the same reason. His MD is FA.

What I do for my daughter. So relate.

Thank you for this... my single pair of comfy yoga/pj’s thank you.

Love your spirit

Love this content! Powerful!

i’m surprised by the like to dislike ratio

Best talk ever!!! Gina in Lights

This is beautiful. Really beautiful.

I’m fuhklempt. 😢 This really touched me. ✋🏻

"How adaptive clothing empowers people"... You know what I'm thinking. *DON'T LOSE YOUR WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY*

Much respect xx

thanks so much ..... sorry my englisch are so poor ...... danke für die schönen worte

Oliver is so handsome! You have done a great job. Thank you so much for sharing your story and working hard in research, development, and sales!

YES!!! I love this!

That's an awesome mom!

Like, even though they're orthopaedically hosed, now they can be totally awesome, thanks to you. You go, girl!

My son can not straighten his legs so, therefore, it is very hard to put ANY pants on him plus he has a feeding tube in his stomach, also he can not raise his arms above his head to put on a pullover shirt. I am looking for clothes for him. can you help with that?

Aw when she’s made new jeans for her son. Oh my heart

Great job!😍💪💪💪

I have been on the defensive for practically all my 73 years of life on this, the third rock from a main sequence small star in this galaxy, and never realized that there is a whole field of adaptive devices and clothes to use and wear to compensate for my Cerebral Palsy. So, from now on, I will use these resources to further my enjoyment of life on this rock... as long as I have left to live. And hopefully, I may be able to inspire a lot of others in similar circumstances to do the same.

This is heart breaking, but what she came up with is really amazing

I have cerebral palsy and I definitely understand that it takes a lot to get dressed it can take a little longer and their are many things none disabled people take for granted.

I love my sweatpants!

Maravilhoso!

I still don't understand the point of fashion or clothing styles, but I'm all for people who make other people happy.

bravo

Adaptation helps a lot to persons with disabilities......and now a days it's growing......😄😃

i struggle to get myself dressed as well, though i don't have any disabilities (that i know of). fashion is a subjective. as we can see from the past, the type of clothing that was considered "in style" was often dictated by the people that made the clothing. nowadays, popular media heavily influences the style of the younger generation. the ones that don't conform to the "current fashion" are singled out. what you have to teach the kids is that you don't have to wear what everyone else wears, that it's 'ok' not to mindlessly follow the 'trend'. can you really say for sure that what your choice of wardrobe was heavily influenced by media and the opinions of others? can you really say that your 'fashion' is an expression of your inner self and not your want to 'blend in' or to look like someone else?

The classic world of our time in the most fashion Women is most highest beauty, in Quality design

💗

You can see the guilt she feels for the sweatpants phase. Let it go mama you rock!

She's a great parent

Truly inspiring!

I actually think that these clothes would be very useful for others too. Old people for example also often have difficulties with things like buttons…

I wear adaptive skin

VELCRO WAS THE BEST INVENTION

Someone should take this to the Indian fashion industry

Mama blessings

❤

Good ideas. Super basic ideas for a lot, she just capitalized on it

❤❤❤

Is it Target who adopted this fit?

TL;DW: She made some clothes easier to put on/take off for people who have trouble. (Magnets instead of buttons, T-shirt that opens at the back so arms go in first, trousers with elastic waist). A lot of talking, little being said.

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🙋HOLA🖒

Cool looking kid

Her crying was too much. It’s obviously personal but I feel like as much as she practiced idk

180609

chapeau !

Who also think that she is wearing a flying dress?

Ted Talks... so sad to see you go. not good, not good at all

Please put Arabic sup for videos

1 billion people with disabilities? She must be counting obesity and old age too, or else there's no way to reach that number.

The future is disabled women!.. Get used to it

dress like nun

This has got to be the most disappointing title for a video I have ever seen.

If you need cloting to have confident then you have some issues.

She sounds like a liberal

If only they made some clothes for the women’s march “Women’s march largest gathering of metal disabilities ever” ~ CNN ~New York Times

You go girl!

Amazing Fashion! Adaptive Clothing! Thanks Mindy Scheier!