To dress a child who doesn’t have ASD in M+S easy dress/autism clothes?

[NotASDJustLovelyAndClumsy]

As title says really.

DD is 7, and is dyslexic, has DCD, hypermobility and eczema.

She struggles with buttons, she hasn’t got the dexterity in her fingers to do them. She also doesn’t like labels or seems as they irritate her skin and cause it to break out in eczema. So for school where she gets less help with dressing she wears the M+S Easy Dress/Autism trousers or skirt and polo shirts (the ones with Velcro), then an oversized logoed school jumper.

To her she looks just like her friends with a few adjustments that no-one else can see. My DD loves it, the quality is brilliant and I’ve never had any trouble getting hold of it as I order it online although a few times I’ve had to wait for the size I’ve needed as they don’t have it in stock (but I always buy awhile before I need the next size so never an issue)

My friend whose son has ASD says I’m making a mockery of the clothing, it’s not for DD as she doesn’t have ASD and I should leave the clothes for those who need it. She says M+S should ask for proof of diagnosis before selling the items.

AIBU to use it? And if I am where can I get similar uniform that she can wear that isn’t specifically aimed at those with ASD?

ASD clothes

Your friend is an utter twat. There are a lot of them about, looking to have the monopoly. Fucking idiots.

My friend whose son has ASD says I’m making a mockery of the clothing, it’s not for DD as she doesn’t have ASD and I should leave the clothes for those who need it. She says M+S should ask for proof of diagnosis before selling the items.

That is the most ludicrous thing I’ve heard.

Dress your DD in whatever you like.

@Tal45

Your friend needs to fuck right off and I say that as the parent of a child with ASD. Tell her that ASD, dyslexia, dyspraxia ADHD etc are all linked and there is often some overlap or you can be diagnosed with more than one as my son is. Why would you buying the range of clothing have a negative impact on anyone?? Quite the opposite, if it sells well they're more likely to expand the range. And what about children who are waiting for a diagnosis? are they not allowed to buy from it until their diagnosis come through?

You say she struggles with buttons etc and already I'm wondering if she is also dyspraxic. How is she with blance/riding a bike/skipping with a rope/using a knife and fork/shoe laces?

DCD - Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, usually preceeds a Dyspraxia diagnosis so she'll likely be diagnosed dyspraxic eventually.

I bought a 5 pack of the Easy Dressing leggings the other day for my daughter as they were advertised as high rise, and I can never get leggings to cover her bum. I didn't realise they were a specific range until afterwards. But agree the more people that buy them the more likely they are to keep the range.

Your friend is incredibly rigid OP. Sounds like you've been given the vouchers as the clothes are exactly what your Dd needs. I'm dyspraxic, my mum would have loved some of these when I was tiny and in need of easy fastenings!

I didn't even know know you could get autism clothes! You learn something new everyday.

Yanbu and your "friend" is an idiot.

@MrsToothyBitch

Your friend is incredibly rigid OP. Sounds like you've been given the vouchers as the clothes are exactly what your Dd needs. I'm dyspraxic, my mum would have loved some of these when I was tiny and in need of easy fastenings!

No vouchers I just buy them off the M+S website, I was told about the range by DDs headteacher.

Your friend sounds very unaware or comorbidities. Asd, DVD, and etc can have symptoms that overlap like the Olympic rings. One of my sons has ASD, the other has dyspraxia. My dyspraxic son son has sensory issues and trouble with buttons. They have the same genetic condition but different diagnosis.

You childs needs are not negated by your friends dd needs. I think I would tell her less. Having a child with additional needs is enough of a head fuck without defending their condition and needs are real and valid.

I'm dyspraxic and would have loved these clothes as a child - I struggled with buttons and also clothing seams. PE and swimming were awful, I was always the last to get dressed afterwards because I struggled.

I can think of lots of conditions people could have which would make these clothes useful - from skin conditions like epidermolysis bullosa (clothing seams etc can cause blistering) and eczema to pretty much every neuro divergent condition, and conditions which affect the joints and muscles, like juveline idiopathic arthritis.

Plus people without any conditions who just want to be comfortable!

Your friend is being a dick. That line of M&S clothing isn't just for children with autism, it's for children with a variety of SN that makes it hard for them to get dressed/undressed.

Your friend is being an idiot!

Why shouldn't other children use it?!

The more people that buy it the more demand and therefore the more likely the range will continue to be sold. YANBU

Your friend is a colossal twat. Buy what you want for your dc

Also to add, I hadn't heard of this but if it had been around for my youngest I'd have bought it. He doesn't have diagnosedautism although I suspect he is a little further along the spectrum than lots of kids but he has issues with his clothes and is fussy what he wears due to how it feels, labels etc

Your friend sounds pretty stupid

Is your friend also ND? I'm no expert but it sounds a bit as if she likes to follow the rules set out on labels, and the clothes are labelled for autistic children, so it would be logically a breach of that rule.
In which case she is not being rude, particularly. You know her better than we do.

Your friend is ridiculous. You aren't depriving an autistic kid of them! If no-one buys them they won't make more.

I have an autistic child who wears these. I can’t imagine what your friend is thinking. Correct me if I’m wrong but they are marketed as accessible aren’t they? In which case, that includes anyone who finds buttons inaccessible, whatever the reason.

Even if they were called ASD clothes, it would still be fine and not insulting in my view unless you bought them for a joke and actively mocked them, which would be bizarre and you clearly aren’t doing!

My friend whose son has ASD says I’m making a mockery of the clothing, it’s not for DD as she doesn’t have ASD and I should leave the clothes for those who need it. She says M+S should ask for proof of diagnosis before selling the items.

Your friend hasn't read the M&S description of the clothes, they arent just for those with ASD at all. And who cares as a retailer M&S sells them to people that buy them as they need them.

Your friend has issues. Is she always this competitive about how her child is more needy than others? And believes her som only has special status? There are so many neuro and sensory diverse children who benefit from adapted items and services due to their individual needs.

I wonder how else friend tries to put others down? . Usually friends take an interest in their friends / friends children's' issues too and shares details like this- she should have been telling you about the clothes herself knowing it'd help your DD.

Your friend is an idiot. It’s Easy Dressing g adaptive clothing and is for anyone who needs it. Nowhere does it say it’s only for people with Autism.

The easy dressing range is for children with all sorts of disabilities and is not merely for Autistic kids. True, the Autism charities had a lot of input into the clothes design but they were implented so that all kids with any type of disability could wear them! Op your friend is a complete wally!

I would have loved this range has a kid. I'm dyspraxic not autistic or have AsD but my fine motor skills aren't the best and I struggle with buttons even now.

Yanbu what matters is that your dd is comfortable not what your rude friend thinks

My son is nearly 12. He has dyspraxia and I still have to help him with buttons and laces. He also falls over often and rips his trouser knees frequently (lack of reinforced knees). If I could get clothes that would make his life easier, I would buy them absolutely. He has to wear men's sizes so there's not many elasticated options.
Your friend is being daft and trying to act the victim. Not all sensory issues are linked to autism. Xx

DS2 sometimes grabs and wears DS1's comfort seamless socks. No mockery involved.

The more people that buy these items regardless of need (or not) the more market there is and the more products will be developed.