Nike Adds Accessible Shoes To Their Legacy

I'll admit it. I was a bumbling, crying, can't see through my mascara MESS while watching this video. As a lover of fashionable shoes, I have always shunned the shoes Hanger tried to hand me when my daughter would get new ankle-foot orthotics. Ugly. Clunky. Not matching with ANYTHING. 

There was no way my daughter would be caught dead in those shoes. 

So when she got her first AFO's, she also got her first pair of Converse Chuck Taylor Slip on Sneakers. And we have continued down this vein of lightweight fashionable sneakers that could accommodate her braces - most of them coming from Target. However, with age comes a strong desire for independence. In short, Miss E is ready to dress herself, so imagine my surprise when the video of the NIKE FlyEase came across my Facebook feed! 

Finally, a shoe she could put on and take off by herself! She could put her little finger through the loop on the zipper, unzip the heel, slide her foot in, zip it up and secure the velcro tab across the front and VOILA - SHOES ON! This made me wonder if other shoe companies were FINALLY starting to notice our babies, and making accessible shoes for independent living. 

Sure enough, Converse has added to their slip on shoe for toddlers with an older kid shoe called the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Block Party Satin High Top (for girls) and the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Simple Step Americana (for boys). Both models allow for easy on and off, as well as independent dressing (not to mention EASE of independent dressing) through the use of either zippers or velcro.

We are over the moon about these snazzy new shoe finds (even if we are late to the game), and we just had to share them with you! If you've found other accessible clothing or shoe companies, drop their link in the comments! We'd love to check them out and share the news! 

Target Hits The Mark With Inclusive Fashion

Remember being a kid, and the joy of FINALLY being able to pick out your own clothes? You could match your acid washed jeans with your oversized gray fringed sweatshirt, or peg your pants to show off your double layered scrunched socks....

Oh wait - did I just date myself? 

Whatever - we all remember the joy of being "in style" as a kid. Unfortunately, for kiddos with varying disabilities, they have found themselves watching from the veritable back row of life's catwalk, never being able to participate. Because:

itchy tags

inside seams

shirts with buttons

narrow pant legs

narrow hip widths

And the list goes on and on. Now, if you're a crafty parent, maybe this wasn't an issue for you. Maybe you just broke out the trusty sewing machine to revamp the clothes so they worked and were on-trend. However, if you're anything like me - you safety pinned the heck out of everything that came into your home and prayed your kid didn't turn into a human voodoo doll at the expense of fashion. 

Well, it seems as though Target has heard the cries of my kid, er, I mean parents of kids with special needs all across the land and have expanded their adorable Cat & Jack brand to include SENSORY FRIENDLY CLOTHING!

I. KNOW.

It's almost like Christmas! They feature tagless shirts, and pants/shorts that are wider in the hip and butt to accommodate kiddos in diapers (and soon to come: side zip dresses)! And unlike the unsightly shoes that are handed to us when our kiddos get their first pair of AFO's (ankle-foot orthotics), they did NOT skimp on the cuteness factor. Check out these adorable items (click eachto purchase)!

$5.00

$7.00

$6.00

$6.00

They also carry flat seam leggings and solid colored tops for boys and girls. With prices ranging from $5-$7, not only can our kiddos get on the fashion train, they can eat dinner too - because it's so dang affordable! We always knew we loved Target, but this - well this just seared that little red bullseye onto our hearts forever. 

Thank you Target for leading the way in retail inclusion!

*NOT a sponsored post. We're just really geeked about this new offering from Target and HAD to share it with you!*

4 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW To Stop Disabling Disabled Children

Whether it is a cognitive or physical impairment, every child with a disability deserves  and has the right to a fair and equal academic experience. True inclusion affords them this (when supported and executed properly). However, far too often, the little things that help facilitate that inclusion are overlooked. Our founder Adiba Nelson wrote this article in the hopes of shedding some light on those little things.

Because it's ALWAYS the little things.

(Click on title)