By: Veena K. Shirgavi & Dr. Shailaja D. Naik

Abstract

Clothing is one of the basic necessities of human life. It plays a significant role in all round development of an individual, which is also true in case of physically challenged. Keeping in view the importance of clothing in human life, three sets of garments were specially designed for cerebral palsy children. Comfortability and acceptability of these specially designed garments, were assessed by wear study procedure. It was found thaI among the designed garments shorts with wraparound flap was first in order of preference followed by capri with suspenders and trouser with side way zipper opening. The special features incorporated in the newly designed functional garments was found to be most comfortable and practicable. All the mothers of five cerebral palsy children expressed that the specially designed garments were not only attractive but also functional and can be used as casual wear or outer wear.

Introduction

Clothing has been recognized as a primary need of mankind throughout the world. It is one of the most personal components of daily life. Clothes render on individual a distinct identity.

These give a feeling of self confidence and comfort and the wearer feels physically, psychologically and socially at ease.

Uncomfortable clothes can take away the joy of living. This is equally true for special group, whose needs are greater because they need more comfort and convenience as compared normal people to become independent.

Special group consists of people who deviate from normal with respect to physical, mental and social characteristics to such an extent that they need unique care in clothing, education and training and cerebral palsy is one among them.

Keeping in view the needs of cerebral palsy children, attention is being focused on normal children clothing as they are easily available in the local market with wider range of sizes and latest styles but no attention is being paid to clothing of special group as they are totally dependent on their mothers as far as clothing is concerned. In other words the special group shall be considered as one, whose clothing requirement is different from an average or normal group.

The children with cerebral palsy face number of problems while performing their daily activities, thus use support of crutches, guards, spints, calipers and wheel chair according to the severity and requirements. Parents play an important role in rehabiliting these children. These clothing problems may be minimized by designing suitable garments for the needy as well as to supplements their personality. Special clothing designed with self-help features encourages the child to dress and undress himself or herself, thus making him or her independent that inturn builds self confidence. Such clothes can be made attractive and fashionable contributing to physical, psychological and emotional feeling of children.

Objectives

• To analyse the clothing problem encountered by cerebral palsy children

• To design and construct suitable functional garments for cerebral palsy children

• To findout the acceptability of newly designed functional garments for children