Clothes For the Physically Handicapped Homemaker, With Features Suitable For All Women
Title
Clothes For the Physically Handicapped Homemaker, With Features Suitable For All Women
Creator
Date
1961
Relation
Home Economics Research Report
Number 12
Subject
Excerpt
Clothing illustrated in this publication was developed to suggest ways of eliminating or alleviating some of the common problems of women whose homemaking duties and self- care are made difficult by physical handicaps. Many of the garments and special design features will be of interest also to able-bodied homemakers who want clothing that is comfortable to work in, easy to take care of, and attractive to wear.
PROBLEMS AND NEEDS
An understanding of the problems and needs of physically handicapped women was obtained through interviews with 70 homemakers whose main disablement was ambulatory, but whose hands, arms, and shoulders were frequently involved. Most of these women required an aid, such as a wheelchair, crutches, or braces.
Comfortable clothes, compatible with handicapped homemakers' ways of moving about and working, it was found, can help them to work more efficiently and easily. Clothes that do not respond readily and are antagonistic to movements essential to housework, make work needlessly difficult and are fatiguing and irritating. Moreover, the resulting strain on fabrics and seams makes such clothes short lived.
Convenient clothes, easy to put on and take off, easy to fasten and unfasten, can make the difference between self-reliance and dependence on others in housework and self-care.
Pockets, whether on clothes or attached to wheelchairs, that provide organized and secure places for articles commonly needed every day can save the wheelchair homemaker needless confusion and effort. Also, they may serve as the extra hands needed when doing housework while operating a wheelchair.
PROBLEMS AND NEEDS
An understanding of the problems and needs of physically handicapped women was obtained through interviews with 70 homemakers whose main disablement was ambulatory, but whose hands, arms, and shoulders were frequently involved. Most of these women required an aid, such as a wheelchair, crutches, or braces.
Comfortable clothes, compatible with handicapped homemakers' ways of moving about and working, it was found, can help them to work more efficiently and easily. Clothes that do not respond readily and are antagonistic to movements essential to housework, make work needlessly difficult and are fatiguing and irritating. Moreover, the resulting strain on fabrics and seams makes such clothes short lived.
Convenient clothes, easy to put on and take off, easy to fasten and unfasten, can make the difference between self-reliance and dependence on others in housework and self-care.
Pockets, whether on clothes or attached to wheelchairs, that provide organized and secure places for articles commonly needed every day can save the wheelchair homemaker needless confusion and effort. Also, they may serve as the extra hands needed when doing housework while operating a wheelchair.
Publisher
U.S. Department of Agriculture