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“Look at Me!” A program for increasing self-awareness as to outward appearance among people with IDD

 No matter who we are, our outer appearance makes an impact on the world around us. It can work wonders on the way the world sees us and on how we see ourselves, as in the saying attributed to the ancient Jewish sages: “Your dignity is in your attire” (Exodus Rabbah 18).

What we wear also affects the way we feel. Good grooming and appropriate attire are an extension of our bodies, and they enable us to gain greater space for ourselves both visually and through the sense of control they give us (Bernard, 2007).
 
People with IDD are often identified by their different outward appearance. This can be attributed to various factors such as lack of personal self-awareness, parental lack of awareness, failure to maintain personal hygiene, the determination of caretakers to protect people with IDD, and frugality.
 
The goal of enabling people with IDD to feel equal and integrate into the community presents many complex challenges because their outward appearance is often so clearly different. This is especially true if the person in question has an unpleasant body odor or wears clothes that are not suited to his or her age group, gender or the weather, to name several examples.

 The Shalem Foundation and the Community Services Department of the Division of Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities at the Social Affairs and Social Services Ministry are working closely to launch a unique project designed to increase awareness of the importance of the care recipient’s appearance. The goal is to increase this awareness among people with IDD, members of caregiving teams and the families of people with IDD in order to (a) encourage members of the general public to view people with IDD as equals; (b) advance the integration of people with IDD into society and the job market; (c) improve their self-image; and (d) developing skill building for people with IDD in order for them to independently have the ability of an appropriate "dress code" for work positions, and employing organizations .
 
The project has two additional goals: to establish objective indices regarding appearance in connection with employment, recreational and other contexts, and the formulation of a national dress code for all places of employment where people with IDD work.
This program was developed and is being led by Ruthie Travis, an image consultant, leader of image and personal branding workshops, and an expert in the field of attire among special-needs populations.

The Shalem Foundation is a partner in the initiation, operation and funding of this program.
 
The following video clip describes a pilot project that was implemented at a rehabilitative workshop in Or Yehuda in 2016.
 

Filmed and edited by Eli Shrem