Bespoke Communication Clothing for Speech and Language Therapists
My Best Interest works with speech and language therapists to create bespoke Communication Clothing for children and adults who may find spoken communication difficult, unreliable, tiring or inaccessible.
The clothing places useful words, pictures or symbols directly onto a wearable garment, giving the wearer—or a communication partner—another way to express, model and support everyday communication.
Communication Clothing is designed to complement a person’s existing communication methods and professional recommendations. It is not intended to replace AAC systems, therapy, assessment or individual clinical judgement.
Who it may support
Bespoke Communication Clothing may be useful for people with a wide range of communication needs, including autistic people, minimally speaking or non-speaking people, people with learning disabilities, developmental language disorder, acquired communication difficulties, stroke or brain injury, and people who use symbols, key words, gestures or multiple communication methods.
Every person is different. A bespoke design can be built around the individual’s communication strengths, preferences, environment and access needs rather than expecting them to adapt to a fixed design.
How Communication Clothing can be used
- Direct communication: the wearer can point to a word, image or symbol on their clothing.
- Communication-partner modelling: an SLT, teacher, support worker, parent or carer can wear the garment and model language in everyday interactions.
- Consistent vocabulary: agreed words and symbols can remain available across home, school, therapy, community and work settings.
- Support during transitions: familiar communication options can remain close by when moving between rooms, activities or environments.
- Quick access: useful communication is wearable and does not depend on finding a separate resource first.
- Choice, feelings and self-advocacy: designs can include requests, refusals, emotions, regulation needs, pain, breaks, help and personal preferences.
Communication Clothing will not suit every person or every situation, and it should not be treated as an emergency communication system. We encourage decisions to be guided by the individual, their support network and the professionals who know them.
What can be included
A bespoke design can include combinations of:
- Yes, no, stop, help and “I don’t know”
- Food, drink, toilet, pain, tiredness and other everyday needs
- Feelings, regulation needs and requests for a break or quiet space
- People, places, activities and special interests
- Personal phrases, scripts or vocabulary
- Words in different languages
- Pictures, photographs or approved symbols
- Identity or disclosure statements where the person wants them
- Context-specific vocabulary for school, home, work, travel, healthcare or community settings
The vocabulary can be kept deliberately small and focused or expanded across several garments for different environments and routines.
Designed around access—not just vocabulary
Choosing the right words is only one part of the process. We can also consider:
- Where the person can most easily see and reach the communication options
- Symbol size, spacing, contrast and visual complexity
- Motor access, pointing accuracy and preferred side of the body
- Visual, sensory and processing needs
- Literacy level and whether words, pictures or both are most useful
- Age-appropriate and respectful presentation
- Garment type, fit, fabric feel, seams and preferred colours
- Whether the garment will be worn by the individual or a communication partner
- How the design fits alongside the person’s existing AAC and communication strategies
Garments and sizes
Options may include sweatshirts, hoodies, zip hoodies, T-shirts, long-sleeved tops, school clothing and other garments where suitable. Our standard size range covers young children through to adults, including sizes from approximately 1–2 years up to 5XL, subject to garment availability.
Working collaboratively with SLTs
You can enquire on behalf of a client, family, school, service or organisation, or recommend that they contact us directly. We can work from a professional brief and collaborate with the individual and their support network before the design is approved.
Useful information may include:
- The communication goal and the settings in which the garment will be used
- The person’s current communication methods
- Essential vocabulary and words or concepts to avoid
- Preferred images, photographs, symbols or languages
- Visual, sensory, physical or access requirements
- Who will wear the garment
- Preferred garment, size and colour
- Relevant timescales or events
Please only share information that is necessary for the enquiry. Avoid including confidential clinical records or unnecessary personal data in the initial form.
Symbols, artwork and permissions
We can work with original artwork, customer-supplied images and certain licensed symbol systems where the appropriate permissions are in place. If you request Widgit® symbols or other third-party content, we may need evidence that the relevant client, school, organisation or professional holds the required licence or permission before production.
We will discuss alternatives if requested artwork cannot legally or practically be reproduced.
Consent, dignity and individual choice
Where possible, the person who will wear or use the design should be involved in choosing the vocabulary, imagery, placement and appearance. Designs should support autonomy and dignity, not communicate information the person does not want displayed publicly.
For children or people supported in decision-making, we encourage the family and relevant professionals to consider consent, assent, privacy, safeguarding and how visible statements may affect the wearer in different environments.
How the bespoke process works
- Enquiry: tell us about the person, setting and communication goal.
- Discussion: we clarify vocabulary, access, garment and design requirements.
- Design: we create a digital proposal or mock-up.
- Review: the individual, family and relevant professionals can check the design and request agreed changes.
- Approval and payment: production begins only after the final details are confirmed.
- Production and delivery: personalised production normally takes 14–21 days after approval and is typically completed within 14 days or less.
Bespoke pricing depends on the garment, design complexity, artwork, adaptations and quantity. We will explain the relevant costs before you commit to an order.
Schools, services and professional teams
We can also discuss designs for schools, clinics, therapy practices, charities, care providers and multidisciplinary teams. This may include garments for individual clients, staff modelling, shared vocabulary across a setting or coordinated designs for several people. There is no minimum order for schools.
Enquire about a bespoke design
Use the form below to tell us what you would like the clothing to support. You do not need to have every detail decided—we can help identify the practical design questions during the consultation.