Apparel Acquisition for Consumers with Disabilities: Purchasing Practices and Barriers to Shopping

Abstract

Consumers with disabilities from State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation programs were surveyed to determine the consumers'profile, apparel acquisition practices including preferred shopping site, knowledge of distributors of apparel for consumers with a disability and perceived economic risk, and the frequency and causes of apparel shopping barriers for consumers with functional limitations. Independent apparel selection decisions were made by most of the 625 respondents who rarely had someone shop for them. They purchased apparel more frequently at department, discount, and mass merchandise stores located preferably in shopping malls. While most of the respondents were unaware of retailers of functional apparel, they were willing to spend more for such apparel. Women had more difficulty than men with architectural barriers. Major obstacles were fitting rooms, space between aisles, restrooms, steps, traffic routes through stores, curbs, and merchandise location.