 Many people living with scoliosis live with a "hump".
What's it like to live with a hump? Well,...in addition to wearing loose clothes so nobody could see my brace, I wore loose clothes so nobody could see my hump. I was always conscious of my hump. I rarely wore strapless clothes or tight clothes (on top) unless I wore a sweater, blazer or unbuttoned button down shirt over it. Bikinis were my friend because you could see my hump if I wore a one piece. I hated looking at my hump in the mirror, I hated looking at myself from the side. Actually, I don't have any physical pictures of my back other than x-rays. I always asked my friends when we were shopping or going out, "Can you see my hump?" And like my brace, I feared someone touching my back, feeling the hump and asking “What’s this?” It only got worse and more noticeable over the years as my scoliosis progressed, my spine twisted more and my hump got bigger. I could see it through my blazers (and you know I love a good blazer) and occasionally so could others and without pause, the question followed. Guess what the question was?? And my answer was “my hump”. Yes, I gave it a name. Living with scoliosis is unique to those with the condition as it presents many challenges. At least it did for me. I'm sharing my personal experience as we acknowledge National Scoliosis Awareness Month.
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 June is Scoliosis Awareness Month.
In honor of this distinction, I'm reposting a fantastic quote that speaks to 11-year-old me, a vibrant little girl who loved sporting her velvet jacket in the sixth grade and was ready to take the fashion world by storm until she was temporarily sidelined by a scoliosis diagnosis. Now, I have reshaped the narrative and the fashion world will get me viewing the experience through a different lens. Sending strength and compassion to everyone managing the "curve" and living with scoliosis.  What do you know about Scoliosis? Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that affects about 2-3% of people across the world, and the United Nations estimates there are about 8 billion people worldwide. Roughly speaking, that is about 240,000,000 people! Think about it, that is a lot of people! Scoliosis is most often developed and discovered during growth in childhood or adolescence (ages 10-18), although, treatment and monitoring may be lifelong. Awareness, early diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis are the keys to help stop progression of the curve!  "The family bonding shopping trips ended. My body image was destroyed. And I was forced to break up with a fundamental part…of ME.” - Dona Edwards, TEDx Speaker
I have always identified with Fashion! My scoliosis diagnosis as an adolescent impacted this greatly! I was the daughter of a fashionista married to a dapper dresser who also took fashion seriously. I treasured our family shopping trips where we all bonded over our love of fashion! The abrupt change in my physical condition sent me into a tailspin as I felt helpless departing from the most basic sense of myself. Following many challenges with getting dressed, excruciating pain, surgery, prayer and patience, I was introduced to Adaptive Fashion. It has renewed my optimism for what fashion can be and restored my hope that fashionable adaptive clothing and shoes will one day become mainstream. The journey has not been easy, but here I am.  I did my FIRST podcast and it’s out today! I was so excited to join the Words of Love Podcast with Dr. Dwayne exploring the power of self-acceptance! Dr. Dwayne watched my recent TEDx talk about my journey with scoliosis leading to my major spinal fusion surgery and invited me to be a guest! To say I’m humbled is an understatement. We talked about my mission to bring awareness to the need for fashionable adaptive clothing and shoes for people with disabilities. Dr. Dwayne was particularly interested in what led me to say “the family bonding shopping trips ended. My body image was destroyed. And I was forced to break up with a fundamental part…of ME” and then we did the “deep dig” that he’s known for unpacking. Dr. Dwayne was so easy to speak with that it allowed me to be vulnerable and took all my nerves away. Imagine how nervous I was to do my FIRST podcast… and he made it easy by being fun, kind and compassionate! I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we loved creating it. I hope you can hear the “Words of Love!” Thank you for this opportunity Dr. Dwayne. It was such a rewarding experience and you continue to be an inspiration! You can find and listen to the episode here: Apple Podcast (link) https://podcasts.apple.com/.../words-of.../id1664605699... Spotify (link) https://open.spotify.com/episode/2FYPGCvEQ6Uz3KASTvmOSw... Substack (link) https://open.substack.com/.../dona-edwards-disability...  Today is the 5 Year Anniversary of my Spinal Fusion Surgery on May 15, 2018. Usually, when I look at a milestone date, I think to myself “boy, that time flew fast!”. I cannot say that this time. This has been the longest 5 years of my life! For decades my orthopedic and neurosurgeon doctors said “you don’t want that surgery” and I believe them whole-heartedly. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. The first time I opened my eyes in the ICU I just knew I was in hell. It was a 10-hour surgery to rebuild and straighten my spine. Although you could not see any emotion from me at the time, you could see the motion of my thumb pushing the morphine button due to excruciating pain. However, on the inside I was so excited to learn that the surgery was a success and I was 3 inches taller! I was on track with my healing and then Easter April 2021, I fell down the stairs, severely traumatized my body, got a concussion and landed myself back in the hospital. It was remarkable that my hardware was not damaged, but my progress in physical therapy was set back about two years by this fall. At this point, I know I’ve had over 1000s of doctors appointments, multiple therapies, all kinds of tests, x-rays, scans, MRIs and hospital stays. Before and after my surgery, my scoliosis and other related health challenges took on a life of it’s own. No doubt, there have been times when I didn’t think I would make it. I am so thankful that I had supportive friends there who wouldn’t let me give up. I reached in deep and thought about my parent’s sacrifice, love and foundation they set for me and one of the most amazing things happened because of this experience. It led me to my passion and purpose. I embarked on a new and exciting journey and started seeing my new disability as an opportunity to rebuild my life. I started turning my dreams into action and showing up in a different fashion! My journey led me to do my own TEDx talk at TEDxGreensboro on November 3, 2022. It's called “Adapt to Life's Curveballs with Fashion!” and it was truly a labor of love. It was such a privilege to share my journey with scoliosis and major spinal fusion surgery and help bring awareness to the need for fashionable adaptive clothing and shoes for people with disabilities. On the fifth anniversary of my life-changing surgery, I invite you to spend 15 minutes of your time and watch my TEDx Talk and see how far my journey has brought me. Thank you! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaDRAd4D_GI Fashion, Scoliosis and Major Spinal Fusion Surgery Inspires First TEDx Talk
Dona Edwards' TEDx Talk on Fashionable Adaptive Clothing and Shoes for the Disabled Goes Live on TED.com "I am thrilled to have my TEDx Talk on fashionable adaptive clothing posted on TED.com and to be able to share my knowledge and expertise. Fashion has the power to transform lives!” — Dona Edwards CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, UNITED STATES, May 15, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2023 - Dona Edwards, an emerging voice in the adaptive fashion industry, has her recent TEDx Talk on "Adapt to Life’s Curveballs with Fashion!" posted on TED.com, a meaningful honor in the world of TEDx. The talk, which was showcased at the TEDx Greensboro event themed “What If?” on November 3, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina, has already garnered attention from viewers around the world. In her TEDx talk, Edwards highlights the urgent need for more fashionable clothing and shoe options for people with disabilities. Drawing on her own experiences for her love of fashion, living with scoliosis and enduring a major spinal fusion surgery resulting in limited mobility, Ms. Edwards provides world changing ideas meant to shift the fashion industry in the right direction-- to create more ways for people with disabilities to live fully in every facet of their life. In a vulnerable and inspiring way, she carefully crafts her talk and takes the audience on a journey that includes insights that answer “What If” the fashion industry were to change their thinking about disabilities and focus on the forgotten and untapped market who dream about wearing stylish clothes too. She is not referring to just functional and accessible adaptive clothing and shoes for the disabled, she is advocating using her story as a powerful catalyst for change in the luxury and designer brands market. "I am so thrilled to have my TEDx Talk on fashionable adaptive clothing and shoes posted on TED.com and to be able to share my knowledge and expertise with others to promote a deeper understanding of the world around us," said Edwards. "I believe that fashion has the power to transform lives and that everyone, regardless of ability, should have access to clothing that makes them feel wonderful, confident and believe in yourself." The United Nations estimates there are about 8 billion people worldwide and over 1 billion are living with a disability. The Return on Disability estimates that disability market is larger than China plus the European Union and is emerging as other markets have in the past—1.85 billion people and $1.9 trillion in annual disposable income. Their Friends and Family add another 3.4 billion potential consumers who act on their emotional connection to people with disabilities. Together, they control over $13 trillion in annual disposable income. In regards to the Global Adaptive Clothing, the market size is estimated to be worth $262.7 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of $301.1 million by 2030 (source: MarketWatch). This is serious purchasing power, yet their needs are invisible. The business opportunity for the fashion industry and humanistic values within the market are mutually inclusive and inextricably connected to one another. Fashion businesses have forgotten this societal group by not embracing differences and inclusion, and missed out by not capitalizing on this opportunity. Both segments can win yet change the world without compromise. Dona Edwards is passionate about promoting disability awareness and inclusion. She actively writes about and speaks on the importance of adaptive fashion, and looks forward to working with partners who share her passions and believe in the importance of offering a range of stylish clothing and shoes for people with disabilities, or in the very least “fashion companies making a collective effort to design one piece of fashionable adaptive clothing or pair of shoes.” To view Dona Edwards' TEDx Talk on "Adapt to Life’s Curveballs with Fashion!," visit TED.com or follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaDRAd4D_GI. For more information about Dona Edwards and her work in the adaptive fashion industry, visit www.donacedwards.com Kevin Brown California Direct Marketing Agency +1 510-326-7253 [email protected] Visit us on social media: Adapt to Life’s Curveballs with Fashion!  When you encounter a PWD (Person with (a) Disability) that may not be visible on the outside, they may appear to be flawless, fabulous and fashion-forward but you have no idea how much effort it took for them to present the way you see them.
To that I say, put yourself in my shoes! How? You may ask. Well, it's way more complicated than you would think. Add fashionable to that, then multiply the complication. For myself, I have to be seated in a chair, in a position that can be best described as a piriformis stretch position. Then I have to make sure my shoe is accessible and hopefully, if it's adaptive, I can use velcro or slide into the shoe. Take away the adaptive piece and it's like moving at a snail's pace just to put on my shoes! So, walk a mile in my shoes? I invite you to try. The British Vogue’s May 2023 issue hit stands on April 25th and celebrates a new vanguard of disabled talent and advocates. It’s a celebratory moment in history and sure to reframe conversations around disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility in fashion.
I’ve seen some of the featured fashionable adaptive clothing but am waiting with bated breath for my copy to see if there are any fashionable adaptive footwear showcased. There are many designer shoe brands listed on British Vogue’s Youtube film in the Special Thanks section like Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik, but I can’t see the details of the shoes. I must know, are there any designer adaptive shoes in the issue? I emphasize this because shoes have always been my nemesis. I have scoliosis and throughout the years shoe comfort and support were my friend because back pain was my enemy. It made for difficult and frustrating shoe shopping. Leaving no store, I mean stone, unturned, I’ve searched high and low for shoes that offered all of the design features I need and were stylish too. Flat shoes were too flat and anything over 2 inches had me looking like a…well let’s just say, not a supermodel strutting on a runway. I passed by the high heel and designer shoes sections and headed straight for the low heels. And begrudgingly, I typically settled for frumpy. My days in NYC brought this issue to a breaking point. Between all the walking and watching Carrie in her Sex in the City shoes, I felt frustrated, demoralized and my back and feet hurt constantly. I never felt chic, pretty, sexy or sophisticated in my shoes. I wore sneakers, sensible shoes and carried my “2 hour” shoes to slip on when I arrived at the swanky martini bars. And then I met an image consultant who said my clothes were fabulous, but my shoes were the culprit! Her suggestion to cut off some of the heel opened a whole new world of cute shoe options for me. Believe me, I kept the shoe cobbler busy! Since having spinal fusion surgery, I have a closet full of shoes in clear boxes that I can admire but can’t wear. With no flexibility in my back, trying to figure out how to tie, buckle and even put on pull-on shoes has taken me to task. The 18” shoehorn is useless! As I said in my TEDx Talk, finding fashionable adaptive shoes are my wicked witch of the West. (TEDx Talk titled "Adapt to Life’s Curveballs with Fashion!"; Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaDRAd4D_GI) According to Euromonitor International, the market for designer shoes is $31 billion today and set to grow to $40 billion by 2027. The Business of Fashion stated that designer footwear shoppers are looking for both comfort and statement styles that push the boundaries of traditional features due to the impact of the pandemic on lifestyles and the elevation of streetwear and sneakers as a status symbol. Brands are competing for market share in this category of footwear, and I am hoping that they will also consider designing fashionable adaptive shoes for people with disabilities who, like me, love BEAUTIFUL shoes. There are companies embracing inclusion and focused on making life easier for people with disabilities. For example, Zappos, Nike and Billy Footwear - thank you for this! But where are the designer shoe brands in this conversation? I’ve learned a couple of things in this adventure of finding fashionable adaptive shoes. My sweet spot for fashionable shoes is ankle boots with a zipper. Also, I wish I kept all my original shoeboxes. It makes life easier for re-sale of the countless designer shoes that I simply can’t wear because I can’t put them on…or take them off!  The struggle is REAL...
When it comes to finding fashion forward clothing, shoes and different fashion styles. No need to make adaptive adjustments to mainstream fashionable clothes. Less exhausting to get dressed. Planning every aspect of the day in clothes - GONE! Here are some amazing benefits of adaptive fashion that can help you when getting dressed. |