For some parents of autistic children, one of the things they frequently notice their kids having trouble with is getting dressed. One mother who was interviewed for the site NationSwell.com, Michele Iallonardi, told the website her 12 year-old son who has autism, has difficulty getting dressed—specifically in terms of differentiating between front and back and what side is the correct one.
She told the website many of her son’s struggles with getting dressed are a result of the items commonly found on children’s clothing—zippers, buttons, tags and seams.
Another mother, Lauren Thierry, whose son also has autism, told the website he faces similar problems and he also has sensory issues with clothing that can make him have a tantrum—for example a shirt that feels scratch or a sock seam that’s twisted.
Thierry, who formerly worked as a journalist and then left to take care of her son fulltime, has created a documentary film on autism and has organized a number of awareness events around the subject.
Based on her own experiences, she began working with a clothing designer in New York City to design clothing for children with autism that would meet their unique needs.
The line, Independence Day, features everything from rugby shirts to dresses and tunics and all are free of seams, tags, buttons and zippers. They’re also reversible in a number of ways.
The designer and Thierry also worked to make clothing that would specifically speak to the needs of autistic children going through puberty.
As well as these design components, Independence Day clothing also has something fascinating included—a GPS device that’s hidden compartments of the clothing not really visible.
The GPS was extensively tested to ensure it was put in a place that wouldn’t bother the child wearing it and where it couldn’t be seen by others.
Whenever parents purchase clothing from this company they receive a complimentary GPS and ID has even partnered with Phoenix 5 Global Tracking to allow parents to create a plan that will let them use the system.
Independence Day is innovative in so many ways, but particularly because it’s the first clothing company to use GPS technology.
Behavioral specialists and other professionals familiar with autism have spoken out in favor of this clothing line, particularly in the fact they see it really improves the happiness of autistic children because these items allow them to feel more self-confident and really cuts the time it takes them to do something so many of us take for granted—getting dressed.
The company’s creator and designer hope to move toward expanding their line even more in the future with everything from underwear and socks to cargo shorts.
Right now the only sizes available are small to large, and they hope to also add extra-small and extra-large sizes.
Their loftiest goal is to participate in New York Fashion Week and have the world’s top supermodels walk with autistic children, who the company creators say are the true heroes.