Are You the Type of Person to Take the Shirt Off Your Back to Help Someone In Need?

Amazing individuals who have earned a track record for continuously going out of their way to help those around them are coined with the phrase “the type of person who would take the shirt off their back to help someone in need”. These selfless individuals are remembered, respected, and well-loved for their efforts benefitting their fellow man or woman. Beyond their legacy however, they generate a mystic source of inspiration that contagiously spreads through others. It can serve as an addicting force that moves even cold hearts to a warmer place and motivate all to want to be better. I am sure from reading this most will pause and remember a select person or persons this reminds them of. It may even regenerate memories where they too were once inspired by that person. What if this powerful metaphorical phrase is enough to move someone but simply couldn’t help millions in need; even when used in its absolute literal sense.

As compelling as the act may be for someone in great need, taking the clothes off your back for those with disabilities unfortunately provides no solution. Disabled individuals oftentimes require specialized clothing to fit them properly or meet their needs. More often than not this severely limits their wardrobe options restricting them to a select few choices that they can wear comfortably, properly, and independently. Along with these limitations comes a lack of fashion, practicality, and confidence in their daily living. Society can be quick to notice these limitations, and will even at times develop negative perceptions based off their dressing habits. If an individual wears sweat pants on a daily basis they might be perceived lazy or having a sloppy appearance. These unfair perceptions can even spread and be casted upon their families; questioning their efforts when caring for the individual. Unfortunately this is solely due to the fact that the majority of society remains uneducated on the issue. This lack of education is prohibiting acceptance in our current culture when most view it to be at an all-time high. Without advocating this overlooked and ignored problem these perceptions thrive and will continue to linger. As discouraging as it may be, perception is truly reality.

Without experiencing firsthand how harsh this reality can be, present day society must imagine as the saying goes “walk in someone else’s shoes”. To truly grasp this concept however they must first realize that they may not be walking at all, or able to tie these shoes without help from others. What also needs to be processed is that the differences society swiftly digests from these individual’s attire are not only acknowledged within the constant thoughts and attitudes of those with disabilities, but creates an unjust void in their lives. This self-realization could fester extended thoughts of isolation and non-inclusion that they are already conflicting with during transition. Even when society has no negative perceptions formed upon a disabled individual based on their clothing they are usually unaware of what they live without.

Spectators cheering on a wounded warrior marathon competitor finishing the race in a wheelchair roar in inspiration. The athletic perception placed upon this individual rationalizes his daily sportswear but their admiration shadows his challenges. After the race he may choose to celebrate with teammates who have changed into casual wear as they set out for a night on the town. Standard jeans that match theirs are simply not on option because the back pockets which are functionally inaccessible to him can cause soars on his body. The same could be said for a disabled veteran who has returned home a hero in the eyes of most. Others will notice that the loss of his left arm has not hindered his ability to work out and stay in amazing shape. His constant choice of active wear makes sense to those around him but they fail to recognize that it’s not just his lifestyle dictating his wardrobe. Independence and ease of wear are now constricting forces that make his dressing decisions for him on a daily basis. It’s hard to fathom these concepts if you only encounter him casually out and about or at the gym, but what about formal occasions, job interviews, and church on Sunday? Imagine the struggles manipulating buttons, zippers, or a belt in dress and formal attire. A man who once so courageously fought to secure our independence now battles dressing independently and could fear situational outcomes like going to the bathroom and changing while wearing certain clothing.

Sometimes when knowledge is gained about the difficulties disabled individuals face on a daily basis obvious challenges may mask their dressing needs. Imagine a group of people who swim as part of their morning workout routine. They come in every morning after what appears to be a senior swim program. Eventually they strike up a conversation in the locker room with a woman and her sister, who explain that after her stroke her doctor recommended this program as her form of exercise and health improvement. The group no longer feels impatient about their slight wait every morning realizing the programs importance, and they even admire the woman’s sister who accompanies her daily for what they assume to be support. Even when armed with this new insightful information they are blinded from the woman’s extended reality. They may never know that her sister goes with her every morning because due to the paralysis on her left side caused by her stroke, she is now unable to change in and out of her swim suit independently. The one time proud naval nurse who served her country by caring for hundreds of injured soldiers during The Vietnam War, is now to afraid to ask strangers to help her with such personal matters. Her sister lovingly meets her needs. Although the woman’s fear is lifted a feeling of guilt and burden grows inside her heart knowing that she takes up so much of her sister’s time every day. These feelings while buried deep within carry a heavy weight pressing down on her life. Her own sister, the person closest to her, will never conceive the full force of losing dressing independence.

After taking this imaginative walk in just a few of these individuals’ shoes acceptance can be developed and education can be obtained. The overwhelming reality however, cannot truly be felt or fully understood metaphorically. Hopefully it can be powerful enough to encourage others to help. Downs Designs Dreams has stepped up to change this reality. As a nonprofit we have embarked on a mission to advocate disability awareness, promote independence and instill confidence by designing, developing and marketing a special clothing line for special people to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. To accomplish this mission it needs others to be educated on these matters and support their efforts. Using its Adopt-a-Jean Friday program a pair of NBZ Jeans are donated to individuals in need every week. Many of these Individuals and families are suppressed by tight economic constraints due to their disabilities, making our dressing solutions and independence difficult for them to obtain. Many more simply are unaware of our program and solutions. With extended support we look to broaden our efforts and increase the number of disabled veterans we donate to using our Support-a-Veteran Adopt-a-Jean program. So are you the type of person who would give the shirt off your back to help those in need, or are you the type of person who will do more?

Click Here to Help Our Support-a-Veteran Adopt-a-Jean Program
http://downsdesignsdreams.org/fundraising