Technology (e.g. robotics, assistive technology, mHealth)

Stroke

Symposium

(625343) Design and Technological Innovation in the Creation of Clothing to Support Autonomy, Participation, and Inclusion

Presenter(s)

• 

  Rosalie Wang, PhD, OT Reg (Ont)

  Assistant Professor
  University of Toronto
  Toronto, Ontario
• JU

  Jelena Ulemek, MSc, OT, OT Reg (Ont)

  Doctoral Student
  University of Toronto
  Toronto, Ontario
• 

  Milan Shahani, MFA

  Professor
  George Brown College
  Toronto, Ontario
• 

  Debbie Hebert, MSc, OT Reg (Ont)

  Associate Professor/Clinic Lead, Rocket Family Upper Extremity Clinic/Practice Lead, Occupational Therapy
  University of Toronto/Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
  Toronto, Ontario

Non-presenting author(s)

• 

  Megan Strickfaden, PhD

  Professor
  University of Alberta
  Edmonto, Alberta
• GJ

  Grace Jun, MFA

  Assistant Professor/Executive Director
  Parsons School of Design/Open Style Lab
  New York, New York

Persons living with disabilities may experience restrictions in the availability and accessibility of suitable and desirable clothing. Limitations in physical, sensory, or cognitive functions contribute to challenges in dressing and wearing some clothing designs. Significant research and development remains to be completed to ensure clothing is created with diverse populations to effectively support their autonomy, participation, and inclusion. This symposium discusses recent projects developing fashionable, functional, and inclusive clothing with persons with diverse abilities. A facilitated discussion explores concepts of adaptive and universal design, and opportunities for design and technological innovations to support inclusion.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe some of the clothing experiences and needs of women with chronic hemiparesis and clothing design features to meet these needs
• Describe the development of an outdoor winter clothing system for seated clients to enable sports participation
• Describe recent advances in design and fashionable technology applied to clothing for persons living with diverse disabilities
• Discuss how fashionable adaptive or universally designed clothing can support autonomy, participation, and inclusion of persons living with disabilities
• Discuss opportunities for applying innovations in design and technology to create inclusive clothing