Woman Invents Magnetic Shirt to Help People With Disabilities

Following her husband’s frustration at not being able to do up the buttons on his formal work shirts, Maura Horton came up with a simple and practical solution: magnetic buttons.

Seven important facts to know about Parkinson’s disease. 

According to a report on Fox News, Horton’s husband Don was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease but was still working and enjoying an active life. But when it came to getting dressed for work each morning, he was struggling to button his shirt. Horton looked around various clothing stores for a practical solution, but only found casual clothing or sportswear which were no good for her husband’s office.

In terms of adaptive clothing, most garments she found were aimed at either the elderly or the severely disabled, not those who still had a high level of independence but needed solutions to simplify tasks. She decided to alter her husband’s existing work shirts by replacing the buttons with machine washable magnets and Don liked them so much she decided to launch a business making them for other people.

In 2013, Horton launched MagnaReady selling her clothing online and clothing giant PVH, who own brands such as Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, will be rolling out MagnaReady shirts in stores in the U.S. and Canada later this year.

Find out about eight common treatments for Parkinson’s disease. 

Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.