An open letter asking the CEO of Nike to create shoes that are better suited for people with disabilities is going viral.
Matthew Walzer, a 16-year-old from Parkland, Fla. with cerebral palsy, took to the Internet earlier this week to ask Nike CEO Mark Parker to consider creating a line of shoes that are self-lacing.
“Out of all the challenges I have overcome in my life, there is one that I am still trying to master, tying my shoes,” Walzer wrote. “Cerebral palsy stiffens the muscles in the body. As a result I have flexibility in only one of my hands which makes it impossible for me to tie my shoes.”
Walzer said that because of the support he needs, Nike athletic shoes are the only type of footwear he’s ever worn. Unfortunately, that means he’s unable to fully dress on his own.
“My dream is to go to the college of my choice without having to worry about someone coming to tie my shoes everyday,” Walzer wrote, adding that he’s not the only one facing this challenge. “I hope that… Nike will consider being the forerunner in producing athletic shoes that will make the difference in the quality of so many lives.”
Now, Walzer’s letter is gaining traction, spreading on Twitter under the hashtag #NikeLetter.
The shoe blog Nice Kicks took notice of the effort and posted a video about Walzer’s letter, which has garnered over 10,000 views. And, the blog has committed to send postcards to Nike with a link to the letter for every Twitter mention of the video.
Nike representatives did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment about Walzer’s request.
Size, shape, structure, support, etc. are all issues with shoes for feet that just don’t seem to “fit” in a typical shoe. There seems to be some choices for adults, but small -to medium kids sizes are very limited. The alternative is bedroom slippers or shoes way too big. Even after spending hundreds of dollars, my adult son just can’t seem to get anything that looks good, fits and is comfortable for his Size 3 feet. Help!
Have you considered the shoe laces that are used by triathletes? They are fast and easy to tighten. You would only need someone to put them on once for you.
I will be the first in line for a new pair of Nike’s. I have used a wheelchair for fifty years and during that time finding properly fitting shoes has been a nightmare. Brazo to Nike…
Sarah – awesome suggestion re shoelaces used by triathletes! Thank you – never thought about it. I am a special ed teacher and have a son with disabilities and tying shoe laces is a big issue. It may still be difficult due to poor fine motor skills but am excited to try!
Please make shoes for special needs kids. My son has Dravet Syndrome which causes balance problems. Almost all kinds of shoes cause blisters of some kind no matter what we do. We also have a terrible time finding shoes that don’t have laces (he chews them off) or velcro (he wears it out). He has lots of sensory processing problems which causes him to do this. Please help!!
Thank you for shaing the idea about the laces that Triathletes use. I did a google search on them, and they look lik they will work. I have a 15 years old daughter, who cannot tie her shoes, has a size 2.5, and as she enters high school in the fall, wanted more options for the shoes we can purchase that are age appropriate.
My son has a multitude of foot and dressing issues. Our solution is New Balance with velcro fasteners.
He need orthotics, and New Balance has enough room for them. He uses a straight last, with maximum
support for the ankle (i.e., stiff around the heel area). There’s never any “one” shoe for everyone.
The store also had an elasticized shoe lace that once it was fitted, you essentially slipped the shoe on, instead of lacing it.
What about velcro fastening shoes? And while we’re talking about accessible clothing, how about elastic waist jeans, shorts, and pants for people who lack the hand strength to fasten buttons or snaps on pants? The Dept. of Justice reports that 19% of all Americans have a disability. Seems like an untapped market out there for someone with the capital and the experience. And hey, don’t forget to employ people with disabilities at the same time you’re marketing to them.
My grand daughter also has CP, she needs high arches and she wears 2 different sizes. It would be nice to be able to bye one pair with different sizes.
My autistic son is knocked kneed, his feet spread out ans he wears out the insides, front and heal od his shoes. Depending on where the thinnest part of the sole is, that’s where he wears them out first. As well he cannot tie his shoes. Shoes with laces quickly get scotch tape in the tips so they can slide though the eyelets without frustration.
My 14yr old son suffered brain damage as the result of a brain stem tumor. This meant that he has very little use of one of his hands, plus he has to wear UCBLs in his shoes and have well supporting shoes. Only trainers can accommodate the orthotics and give the support that he requires whilst also having the type of lacing that does up really tight around thin ankles – velcro is just inadequate. However, my son cannot do up his shoes on his own and also needs help with this final act of dressing himself. We fully agree with the sentiments in Walzer’s letter. We are in Australia.
My sister has cerebal palsy and has the exact same issue!! She uses an elastic based shoe lace that you just pull to secure. One version is lock laces.
Glad that someone mentioned the triathletes’ shoe laces – I am an able bod, but I find it so much easier to just slip my shoes on and off with the elastic “yankz” style laces (I also do triathlons, so I have a few pairs anyway!!). I work as a personal carer to people with disabilities, and am constantly changing my shoes for gumboots to shower people, so if I had to tie my shoe laces up all the time I would waste so much time that I could use to help them out.
My fiancè (who unfortunately passed away 6 weeks ago) used a wheelchair the whole time I knew him, but because he had oedema in his feet, he had a lot of trouble finding shoes that fit both the shape and length of his feet (he was over 6 foot tall so had feet to match) and in the whole time we were together (10 1/2 years) he only ever owned 2 pairs of shoes! Not for want of looking, but purely because he couldn’t find any stylish shoes that fit him properly!! Luckily he didn’t wear through the one pair he had, although I think the buckle didn’t have much more life left in it. I’ll always remember those shoes fondly.. they’ll become something very close to his family.
There is a non-profit organization called the National Odd Shoe Exchange for people who have feet of different sizes.
Try Hickies an alternative to laces, these can be put on the shoes and never have to be tied. I have no affilation with the company but found they are a wonderful alternative. My daughter with special needs also cannot tie her shoes
its really amazing to see people comig out courageously to speak up for the Rights of those who need them more than anyone .Now its time to see these Big companies , who always support the BIG CAUSES,,,,will actually SUPPORT THE CAUSE ?