Occupational Therapy Dressing Strategies for Clients with Low Vision

Finding garments that are easy to determine where the front and back or top and bottom are, are immensely helpful to individuals with impaired vision. Socks with different colors for the heel and toe help those with lower vision identify where the top and bottom of the sock is located and where there foot is to enter to make tasks like putting on socks much easier. Occupational therapy can also help these clients identify markings on garments to help them determine which side is which for example with pants, pockets are more prominent on the back and with shirts, buttons, pockets and patterns are usually on the front of the garment. Adding color to garments is also helpful in separating items like shoes. Using identifying colors to help individuals differentiate between right and left shoes is also helpful in increasing independence when putting shoes on the correct feet

Adding more prominent visuals to tags or markers that can be felt to provide a multi-sensory strategy are also helpful in orienting clothing the correct way! Using colored tags helps clients identify the back of the garment and which direction to orient the garment when putting it on. Using soft tactile mediums like textured stickers, Velcro, or soft fabrics can also be used on tags for clients to feel where the back of the garment is to also aid in putting shirts or pants on the correct way.

Adaptive strategies are tremendously helpful in aiding those with low vision or vision impairments to complete these required daily tasks with greater independence to support successful participation in everyday activities. If you or a loved one has low vision or other vision impairments, contact any of our offices in Cary, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and Durham.