A post from TBPI board about shoelaces...

[francine]

At first I was really lazy because I thought my hand would come back. So in the beginning I bought elastic the size of my shoe laces had a friend thread and tie them which in turn made my sneakers slip on shoes. Only six months later winter came and you can't cheat with snow boots and wearing sneakers meant snow in your shoes!!!!!! So I started tying using the method taught in a children's book I bought for my daughter so she could teach herself. The book is called "Red Lace, Yellow Lace" by Mike Casey and it is published by Barron's so if you have small children that need to learn the normal way grab this book it is fantastic! In my modification method I use my other foot if the laces are short like in sneakers or my teeth if they are my boots. My daughter gets really grossed out when she sees me using my teeth but then she is only five so hopefully one of us eventually finds a better method.
Children very quickly can teach you how to laugh and adapt. So if you are ever stuck on how to do something ask a kid they are more than happy to create new ways to do things. My nine year old son has came up with some of the neatest ways for me to do things.
I hope this helped.
God bless
Mindy

[NancyP]

My daughter's therapist taught her how to do a one handed tie. She is 5, and struggles with it, but eventually it will work. The laces are set so that there is only one string coming out at the end of the shoe. It is really hard to explain, but you might ask your therapist if they have suggestions. I was just resigned to the velcro shoes or the elastic strings.