Adaptive Shoes: A Complete Guide to Special Needs and Accessible Footwear

Adaptive shoes are shoes designed to be easier to put on, take off and wear for people whose feet, hands, balance or bodies need something a standard shoe does not give them. You will also see them called special needs shoes, accessible footwear, disability shoes or AFO friendly shoes. This guide explains what adaptive shoes are, who they help, which features matter, and how to choose the right pair for a child, an adult or an older parent.

This guide is general shopping advice, not medical advice. If you or the person you are buying for works with a doctor, physical therapist, occupational therapist or orthotist, ask them which features matter most.

What are adaptive shoes?

A regular shoe assumes two things: that the foot can be pushed through a narrow opening, and that the wearer can tie laces with two steady hands. Adaptive shoes are built for the many people for whom one or both of those is not true. Instead of changing the person to fit the shoe, the shoe changes:

The opening is bigger, so the foot, and often a brace, goes in without forcing.
The closure is simpler: a zip (see zipper shoes), hook and loop (velcro) straps or set and forget laces instead of laces you tie every day.
The shoe is roomier, with extra width and depth for swelling, orthotics or a brace.
The inside is kinder, with smooth linings and a removable footbed.

Good adaptive shoes look like ordinary sneakers or boots. Many people do not want footwear that looks medical, and children especially want shoes like their friends wear.

Special needs, disability and accessible shoes: same idea, different names

Shoppers use many names for the same kind of footwear, and it helps to know they usually mean the same thing:

Special needs shoes is the term parents often use for children’s shoes that fit braces, sensory needs or a child who cannot manage laces yet.
Disability shoes or shoes for disabilities usually means shoes for adults or children with a physical disability, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, stroke or MS.
Accessible footwear (or accessibility shoes) puts the focus on access: a shoe you can get on and off on your own, often while seated.
Adaptive shoes is the umbrella term the industry now uses for all of these.

Whatever the name, look for the same features: a wide opening, a closure you can manage, room for a brace or orthotic, a secure heel and a slip resistant sole. The sections below go through each one.

Who adaptive shoes help

Adaptive shoes are not only for one condition. Families and adults come to us for very different reasons:

Brace and orthotic wearers. AFOs and SMOs add bulk inside the shoe. See shoes that fit over AFOs and SMOs and orthotic friendly shoes.
Neurological conditions that affect hands, balance or walking: Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, stroke and cerebral palsy.
Sensory differences, including many autistic children and adults. See sensory friendly shoes for autistic kids.
Joint pain and stiff hands, for example with rheumatoid arthritis.
Foot health needs such as diabetes, where fit and pressure matter. See our diabetic shoes guide.
Memory and thinking changes, where fewer dressing steps help. See shoes for dementia patients.
Temporary needs: pregnancy (see also slip on shoes for pregnancy), recovery after surgery or an injury, or swelling.
Down syndrome. Many children with Down syndrome have low muscle tone and flexible, flat, wide feet, and often wear SMOs or insoles. Look for a wide, deep toe box, a firm heel and an opening that goes over the SMO easily.
Wheelchair users, who need shoes that go on while seated. See shoes for wheelchair users.
Older adults who find bending and tying laces harder than they used to.

The features that matter in adaptive shoes

1) An easy opening

This is the single biggest difference. Look at how far the shoe opens and from which direction. Friendly Shoes use Easy Shoe Access (ESA), a patented zip opening built into the shoe. On our rear entry styles, the back of the shoe opens so the foot goes in from behind; on front entry styles, the top opens wide. ESA creates a larger entry portal and is easier to pull than straight, lateral or wrap-around zippers.

2) A closure you can manage

Think about the hands that will close the shoe every morning. Zips and hook and loop straps can be managed with one hand. Set and forget laces are adjusted once and then left alone.

3) Width and depth

Swelling, a brace or an orthotic all take up space. A wide width and a deep toe box avoid pressure on the sides and top of the foot.

4) A removable footbed

Taking out the insole frees depth for a brace or a custom orthotic, and lets you use your own insert.

5) A secure heel

A firm heel counter holds the foot, and a brace, in place. Backless slip-ons and mules are easy to put on but slide off easily.

6) A slip resistant, flexible sole

A grippy rubber outsole and a low, stable heel give steadier footing on most floors.

7) Light weight and smooth linings

A light shoe is easier to lift with every step. Smooth linings matter for anyone with sensitive feet or reduced feeling.

Adaptive shoes for kids

Children grow fast, wear braces more often than adults, and want to do things themselves. For kids, look for an opening they can learn to use alone, room for an AFO or SMO, a removable footbed and a sole that survives the playground. Many parents of children with braces size up half a size, but measure with the brace on rather than guessing.

Browse adaptive shoes for kids, including the Excursion All Black Wider Fit for bulkier braces.

Adaptive shoes for adults

Adults often need the same features but in a shoe that fits work, errands and everyday style. Hook and loop styles suit people who want to adjust the fit through the day; zip styles suit people who want laces that stay tied.

Browse women’s adaptive shoes and men’s adaptive shoes, for example the Hook and Loop Black Mesh Wide Men’s Shoe and Women’s Shoe.

Adaptive shoes for seniors

For many older adults the problem is not one diagnosis but several small changes: stiffer hips and hands, feet that swell or widen, and less confidence on the stairs. A shoe for an older parent should go on while sitting, without bending far, close with one motion, hold the heel securely and have a low, grippy sole. If someone walks with a short, shuffling step, a light shoe with a sole that is not too thick or sticky at the toe is usually easier to walk in; ask their physical therapist what suits their walking.

For a closer look, read our guide to adaptive shoes for seniors. If the person uses a wheelchair, see shoes for wheelchair users.

No shoe can prevent falls on its own. If balance is a concern, talk to a doctor or physical therapist about a full fall risk check.

How to choose: a quick checklist

Who closes the shoe, and with how many hands?
Is there a brace, orthotic or swelling to make room for?
Are both feet the same size? If not, our single or split size shoe program lets you order a different size for each foot.
Have you measured recently? Our foot sizing guide shows how, with or without a brace.
Can you return it if the fit is wrong? Friendly Shoes can be returned within 30 days if lightly worn indoors (returns policy).

Frequently asked questions

What does adaptive shoes mean?

Adaptive shoes are shoes designed to be easier to put on and wear for people with disabilities, braces, limited hand use, sensory needs or other conditions, usually with a wide opening, simple closures and extra room.

Are adaptive shoes the same as orthopedic shoes?

Not exactly. Orthopedic shoes focus on support and correction of the foot. Adaptive shoes focus on access: getting the shoe on and off and fitting braces or orthotics. Many adaptive shoes, including ours, also have supportive, cushioned footbeds.

What are special needs shoes?

It is another name for adaptive shoes: footwear built for children and adults whose needs a standard shoe does not meet, such as brace wearers or people who cannot tie laces.

What are the best shoes for people with disabilities?

The best shoe depends on the need, but the most useful features are the same for most people: a zip or wide opening so the foot goes in without forcing, a closure that works with one hand, extra width and depth for braces or swelling, and a slip resistant sole. Try the shoe on with any brace or orthotic you wear.

What is accessible footwear?

Accessible footwear is footwear designed so people with limited mobility, hand strength or balance can put it on, take it off and wear it safely, often on their own. It is another name for adaptive shoes.

What are adaptive tennis shoes?

Adaptive tennis shoes, or adaptive sneakers, are everyday athletic style shoes with an easier way in: a zip at the back or front, or hook and loop straps, plus room for braces or orthotics. They look like ordinary sneakers. See our guide to zipper shoes, and browse adaptive sneakers for kids, women and men.

Can I run in adaptive shoes?

Adaptive sneakers are built for walking, school, work and everyday activity. If you run regularly or train for a sport, ask your physical therapist what you need, and look for a running shoe that also opens wide enough for your foot or brace.

What shoes are best for Down syndrome?

Shoes with a wide and deep toe box for short, wide feet, a firm heel for stability, a flexible slip resistant sole and an opening that fits over SMOs or orthotics, such as a rear zip. Your child’s physical therapist can advise on supports.