Written by: Elizabeth McCormick
For most of my childhood, I wore leg braces to improve my mobility. With little to no options for adaptive footwear, this made shoe shopping an event – one that could last multiple days, a dozen shoe stores, and a lot of frustration for my parents and I. All to find one pair of shoes that could fit over my braces and last until I got a new pair of braces the next year. Besides the problems that came with finding the shoes themselves, as a child I was often embarrassed by my braces and the sneakers I had to wear with them. I thought they were clunky and unfashionable. It made me self-conscious that I couldn’t wear the same shoes as the other kids and I would try to wear shoes that didn’t work for me just to fit in, sacrificing comfort, mobility, and independence.
It has been a long journey to find shoes that work best for me, and different kinds to meet different occasions – Winter boots, summer sandals, formal shoes, casual shoes, and shoes for work. It is something I am still working on. But as an adult, I have a much different outlook on the shoes and clothes I wear. I prioritize shoes I can put on independently and shoes I can walk in comfortably. Nowadays, I know better what to look for and there are more options for adaptive footwear that make my search a lot easier. I can find shoes that work for me and make me feel good about how I look! I am glad I have a lot more options than I did when I was younger. I am hopeful adaptive footwear options will continue to expand, and make my life even easier.
I have also learned to be less self-conscious about what I wear when prioritizing accessibility. There is no right way to look and the way I dress is right for me! I can still look professional or formal while dressing slightly different from others. Although it took me a long time to learn, I am grateful I can embrace myself and my disability.