Modified clothing applications for children with autism

With this study, it is aimed to provide parents with the ability to apply clothing modification techniques to identify the problems experienced by children with autism during dressing/dressing, and to eliminate these problems. It is planned to facilitate the independent dressing of children with autism with modified clothes, thus reducing parental support and contributing to the use of functional, ergonomic, and comfortable clothes that reflect current fashion. The universe of the research, and the sample for mothers of children with autism living in Turkey, is 6-12 years old, residing in Istanbul, studying in Tohum Autism Foundation, Autistic Child Education Centers (OÇEM), special education classes affiliated to the Ministry of National Education, Special Education and Rehabilitation Centers. The study consisted of 10 mothers/parents who had autistic children and agreed to participate in the study voluntarily. It is a case study because it focuses on solving the dressing problems of children with autism. In the study, a guide was prepared that explains the photographic and staged clothing modification techniques that will contribute to the preparation of modified clothes that will facilitate the dressing skills of their children with autism. Because of the design of the guide and the applications it contains, the "design-based research model" was used. Since the dressing/dressing problems of children with autism need to be solved, each child's need for modified clothing is also different. The needs of each child were individually assessed, based on data collected through an online parent survey. For this reason, Tim Brown's "Innovative Field Approach" and "User-Centered Design" models were preferred in the study. In the study, two different online questionnaires were applied to determine the techniques used in the guide for clothing modification practices and to measure and evaluate their contributions to parents and children with autism. For this purpose, first, a questionnaire prepared to determine the content was applied and content analysis was made. Thus, it was determined which techniques would be applied to which garment group. Secondly, the prepared guide was converted into an e-guide format in the digital environment, and a QR code was created to facilitate mothers' access to the e-guide and speed up the information flow. The e-guide was presented to parents for review, and then, with the online questionnaire, it was evaluated whether the applications in the guide contributed to children and parents with autism. As a result of the study, it was observed that the "Clothing Modification Practices Guide" prepared by the participants would contribute to the solution of the problems experienced by their children with autism and their parents while dressing.