United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

OK how many go through this each back to school season? Katie is seven and really really wants to wear big girl pants (meaning jeans and other non elastic waisted articles of clothing). Thinking we had some zipper motion going on I spent the first half of a vacation dedicated to removing the snaps / buttons from all of her shorts that she wore around the house (help) and several new articles that were purchased with this is mind and replaced them all with velcro. Sooooooo much excitement over how great they looked. Apparently working on a zipper at OT and on a jacket is a LOT different than a pair of shorts. Stupid stupid me. I could cry. No, I did cry. WHY didn't I think to try them again and not just go on oh the recent eval that said she was good to go on zippers (and yes, I saw this on the OT vest and her own jacket).

So the COTA told me to add a little fishing twine to the zipper for her to grab on to.

Any other suggestions? I feel like a rotten potatoe.

The best advice I can give for pant zippers is to pull down a little in the front and then hold your knees together then you can pull up on the zipper as if you were holding with your other hand. Works great for me!
Good luck!
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

Well, first off--don't cry!

I know we all want to help the kids as much as possible, but sometimes Juliana is the one who figures it out. I guess it is a difference in perspective.

She started wearing jeans last year (I just love yoga pants, but no, the sibs were wearing jeans...). She would snap (i didn't buy with buttons) the top and then (all say ick together) lean against the bathroom wall to put her affected arm in a position to hold the pants and then zip them with the unaffected. Okay, so when she told me that I kind of gagged and asked her if she would ask the teacher for help. Yes (great teacher, btw). But, she said, she always has to go to the bathroom at lunch. So she asked her two best friends if they would help her. and they said they would (so sweet). She was the only kid who got to go to the bathroom with a friend! Our teacher went to the head of the lunchroom and explained the issue and an acception was made.

What to do this year? Like Amy, I think she'll find a way.

Katie is young (so is Juliana-she is 8 soon), and she has a long line of things to learn to do differently.

Let her try it out at home, help her find a way that works.

Oh, and our BIG ISSUE... hair. She can't put it up and she is sooooooo frustrated by that.

good luck,
claudia

My 8 year old son Jeremy went through the same thing. His previous OT had the office assistant (a guy) make us a button hook out of a small wooden dowel (those spongy paint brushes are perfect for that, about $1 at home depot) and he put in very strong copper wire and looped it, and used blue electrical tape to secure it. It worked great, then he lost it, and we don't go to that OT anymore. So, the new OT told us about this website, http://www.sammonspreston.com/ we were able to find button hooks. They work awesome! I ordered 2, and should have ordered at least 3, because one went missing right away. The shipping is more than the product itself, so I complained to the 1-800 phone number, and they cut it considerably. I should have asked his OT or PT to order it for me, it may have saved some money. But, anyway, it's well worth it. Jeremy feels proud to be able to button his own pants now. No more sweat pants! At this age, snaps are no where to be found on pants. either.
http://www.sammonspreston.com/Supply/Search.asp this is where the button hooks can be found. He doesn't have a problem with zippers, so we just got the button hook only. He doesn't have a problem with shirt buttons, and I believe that they have a special hook for them as well.
I used a permanent sharpie and wrote his name and phone number on it and "please return to" on it. Otherwise, people don't know what it is and will throw it away without giving it a second thought. I hope that this works for your daughter. It's an awesome tool for them. We purchased #2008. It fits in his pants pocket easily, and is long enough for him to maneuver it. Your OT could work with her on it to help get used to it.
Good luck!