INTENDED PURPOSE AND USE: A button adapter made of durable plastic with a unique keyhole opening that is inserted into the buttonhole of a pair of pants. The Better Button slides over the original button, creating an easy slide on, slide off closure anyone can do. The better button can be used in more than one pair of pants or it can be sewn into pants to remain permanent. The better button can be left on pants when laundered.

BODY FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL USE OF A BETTER BUTTON:

·       At least one intact upper extremity and hand

·       A level of upper extremity and hand strength sufficient to manipulate the button

DEFICITS A BETTER BUTTON COMPENSATES FOR:

·       Decreased hand strength making it difficult to manipulate buttons

·       Decreased range of motion (ROM) in the fingers making it difficult to manipulate buttons

·       Decreased fine motor skills making it difficult to manipulate buttons

·       Decreased sensation in the fingers making it difficult to manipulate buttons

·       Abnormal muscle tone (high tone/spasticity/low tone) making it difficult to manipulate buttons

·       Upper extremity (UE)/hand tremors making it difficult to manipulate buttons

·       Decreased vision making it difficult to manipulate pants buttons

DIAGNOSES A BETTER BUTTON CAN BE USED FOR:

·       Osteoarthritis

·       Rheumatoid Arthritis

·       Gouty Arthritis

·       Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)/Stroke

·       Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

·       Cerebral Palsy (CP)

·       Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

·       Parkinson’s Disease

·       Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – Complete or Incomplete

·       Muscular Dystrophy

·       Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)/Lou Gehrig’s Disease

·       Guillain-Barre’

·       Tremors

·       Hand swelling

·       Upper extremity fractures limiting use of one upper extremity

·       Upper extremity/hand burn injuries

·       Low Vision/Blindness

·       Developmental Disabilities including Autism

·       Neuropathy in the fingers

·       Decreased or absent sensation in the fingers

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES FOR A BETTER BUTTON:

·       A Better Button can make it possible for people with disabilities to have clothing options.

·       Using A Better Button can help conserve energy by making it easier and less time consuming to complete Lower Body Dressing and toileting hygiene.

·       Using A Better Button can allow individuals who have use of only one upper extremity or those who have difficulties with fine motor skills to wear jeans instead of pull on pants.

·       Purchase several and sew them inside your clothing to make it easy to wear button pants.

·       A Better Button may make dressing less stressful for parents of children with special needs when the children prefer to be independent with lower body dressing but are unable to button pants due to fine motor deficits.

·       A Better Button may increase dressing independence and benefit individuals who desire to live in a group home and who want or need to be independent with dressing in order to transition to or remain in a group home setting.