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Can't find school trousers for my disabled child gahhh

59 replies

Readingallthetime · 03/01/2025 13:46

Boys school trousers help! I am really struggling to find my disabled child some trousers, he's grown out of his last size. He needs:
Black
Age 12
Adjustable waist
Straight leg - they CAN'T be slim as we have to fit splints underneath.

I find that the easy fit trousers (pull up) have wider legs but I can't find any in his size 🙄 it's so annoying!

We've tried:
Marks and Spencers - don't fit properly
Next - their straight leg trousers aren't straight they are slim gahhh
Matalan - the ones with the better size legs only go up to age eleven

Can anyone who has trousers from shops such as Sainsburys, Asda, or anywhere else let me know if they have straight legs? They have to be properly straight ie the same width as the thighs. Imagine that they will need thick shin pads underneath. Got to get these by Monday!

OP posts:
Readingallthetime · 03/01/2025 21:23

Polkadottablecloth · 03/01/2025 21:01

The balance between independence and support is so hard, we’ve been on the wrong side of it a number of times! DS really needs an electric wheelchair, he can’t self propel, but he is also unwilling to put up with the restrictions it will give him regarding living spaces and transport. He’s a student so living above shops and using underground etc. He would rather put up with regular falls, worry that one of the falls will causes serous damage but I think he’ll realise eventually a proper wheelchair will help with fatigue as well, he just has to come to it in his own time!

It must be so worrying re the falls - honestly I can't imagine that point where my son does things independently, and even lives elsewhere, I am sure it will happen but it will feel so weird not to be in control!

He actually wants to emigrate to Denmark and work at the Lego headquarters. I told him I'd come and be his assistant ha ha!!

OP posts:
Normallynumb · 03/01/2025 21:30

@Readingallthetime
I had tendon and muscle transfer surgeries before ankle fusion and a femoral osteotomy
I'm 60 now so long before SDR was introduced.
I have Hemiplegia and from what I've read it's for children with diplegia.
I was on baclofen when younger again before Botox
I'm on a FB group and parents of children with CP recommended Nike Flyease trainers for wearing with an AfO

itsgettingweird · 03/01/2025 21:32

For shoes I've found Nike fly ease the best trainers for ds and his afo.

I also used sports direct for school shoes. Their Velcro ones fitted perfectly with the afo as seem wander at the back and around the ball of the foot.

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rubberducksarebastards · 03/01/2025 21:33

Listers schoolwear are the ones I buy for my DS. They can be very generously sized though. Alternatively would a standard pair of trousers held up with an elasticated belt work? Would essentially turn them into a pair of pull up trousers then.

As for the shoes, my advice would be to find your local independent shoe shop. IME they have a much better selection of shoes from the European brands and they often fit better than Clarks. My local shop are also well used to my son and are prepared to do stuff like make sure he has the same person serving him, same seat in the shop, very limited selection so he doesn't get bamboozled e.t.c. Ds's special cuddly toy also always has to have his feet measured as well!

Readingallthetime · 03/01/2025 21:42

Normallynumb · 03/01/2025 21:30

@Readingallthetime
I had tendon and muscle transfer surgeries before ankle fusion and a femoral osteotomy
I'm 60 now so long before SDR was introduced.
I have Hemiplegia and from what I've read it's for children with diplegia.
I was on baclofen when younger again before Botox
I'm on a FB group and parents of children with CP recommended Nike Flyease trainers for wearing with an AfO

That sounds like a lot of difficult surgeries, I hope they were helpful for you.

Ah yes the Nike flyease shoes might be the ones we have! I need to double check. My son's on baclofen too but to be honest we've never been able to tell for sure if it helps, he doesn't notice a difference either, but the doctors say to keep going with it just in case. I'd like to be able to stop the baclofen as it's often out of stock at the chemist.

OP posts:
Readingallthetime · 03/01/2025 21:44

itsgettingweird · 03/01/2025 21:32

For shoes I've found Nike fly ease the best trainers for ds and his afo.

I also used sports direct for school shoes. Their Velcro ones fitted perfectly with the afo as seem wander at the back and around the ball of the foot.

Thanks! We have some Nike ones but I can't remember if they're the flyease. Luckily his school allows them to wear trainers as long as they're all black.

OP posts:
Readingallthetime · 03/01/2025 21:45

rubberducksarebastards · 03/01/2025 21:33

Listers schoolwear are the ones I buy for my DS. They can be very generously sized though. Alternatively would a standard pair of trousers held up with an elasticated belt work? Would essentially turn them into a pair of pull up trousers then.

As for the shoes, my advice would be to find your local independent shoe shop. IME they have a much better selection of shoes from the European brands and they often fit better than Clarks. My local shop are also well used to my son and are prepared to do stuff like make sure he has the same person serving him, same seat in the shop, very limited selection so he doesn't get bamboozled e.t.c. Ds's special cuddly toy also always has to have his feet measured as well!

I think my son must have wide hips 😂. But yes the belt thing is worth thinking about.

Aw that's so cute about the cuddly toy.

OP posts:
Newname101 · 04/01/2025 19:32

My son has his shoes made by the NHS, standard black school shoes and black trainers made to fit around the grafto supports as his foot wearing them is too wide. I'm not sure it's well known.

Readingallthetime · 05/01/2025 10:32

Newname101 · 04/01/2025 19:32

My son has his shoes made by the NHS, standard black school shoes and black trainers made to fit around the grafto supports as his foot wearing them is too wide. I'm not sure it's well known.

Hmm I didn't know that, we have had shoes provided by the NHS but not to go around the actual orthotics.

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