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Location
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS)
Session Format
Oral Presentation
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Dr. Addie Martindale, Faculty Advisor
Abstract
Overall, 85 million (26 percent) of the United States population has some form of disability. In other words, 1 in 4 people in the US have a disability (CDC, 2019). The fashion industry has long focused on a narrowly defined retail customer; one based on contemporary societal ideals of beauty: young, conventionally attractive, and perceived physical health (Carroll, 2015). Thus, neglecting people with disabilities leaves them unsatisfied with the current selection of clothing available to them (Suri, 2016). The sad fact is that currently there is more clothing available for pets than there are people with disabilities (Ryan, 2018). The purpose of this qualitative study is to better understand the level of satisfaction and needs of people who use mobility aids in regards to their clothing. The researcher evaluated 13 video-based interviews to find issues with current selections in ready-to-wear and adaptive clothing as well as desired clothing design characteristics for people who use mobility aids. Common complaints from participants include: donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) independently, fit issues, and inclusion in the fashion industry. This research provides insights to the gap in the market for clothing for people with disabilities.
DOI
10.20429/GS4.2021.009
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Copyright
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Recommended Citation
Miller, Mackenzie, ""People With Disabilities Just Want to Feel Good Too:" Female Consumers That Use Mobility Aids Satisfaction With Retail Selection and Garment Design Characteristics" (2021). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 84.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2021/2021/84
"People With Disabilities Just Want to Feel Good Too:" Female Consumers That Use Mobility Aids Satisfaction With Retail Selection and Garment Design Characteristics
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS)
Overall, 85 million (26 percent) of the United States population has some form of disability. In other words, 1 in 4 people in the US have a disability (CDC, 2019). The fashion industry has long focused on a narrowly defined retail customer; one based on contemporary societal ideals of beauty: young, conventionally attractive, and perceived physical health (Carroll, 2015). Thus, neglecting people with disabilities leaves them unsatisfied with the current selection of clothing available to them (Suri, 2016). The sad fact is that currently there is more clothing available for pets than there are people with disabilities (Ryan, 2018). The purpose of this qualitative study is to better understand the level of satisfaction and needs of people who use mobility aids in regards to their clothing. The researcher evaluated 13 video-based interviews to find issues with current selections in ready-to-wear and adaptive clothing as well as desired clothing design characteristics for people who use mobility aids. Common complaints from participants include: donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) independently, fit issues, and inclusion in the fashion industry. This research provides insights to the gap in the market for clothing for people with disabilities.
