Shoe-shopping With Polio or Clubfoot

We all know that shoe shopping can be a nightmare.  It's hard not to feel like one of Cinderella's stepsisters: the shoe never quite fits!  It is either just too wide, or just too narrow, and it always finds a way to pinch and blister our feet.  Indeed, comfort seems to be the last priority when it comes to shoe fashion.  But what is a casual nuisance for the average shoe-shopper can be a serious frustration for someone with special footwear needs.

Polio survivors, for example, often suffer from skeletal deformity or severe muscle atrophy.  Comfortable shoe wear that fits their specific needs is absolutely necessary.  And purchasing it in a way that does not make them feel self-conscious is a service that must not be overlooked.  After overcoming such a painful disease, shoe shopping should not be burden.

For both polio survivors and people suffering from clubfoot, shopping for shoes in department stores is not an ideal situation.  Most department stores refuse to sell shoes singly, which means that people with special shoe needs are required to buy several more pairs of shoes (and spend more money) than they actually need. Attendants working in these stores are usually untrained when dealing with anything out of the ordinary.  They are not able to offer advice or support to these special customers.

Shopping online provides a private and hassle-free alternative.  Online resources have increased thanks to various support groups.  A quick World Wide Web search reveals that there are plenty of customized options available. OddShoe,for example, specializes in matching customers with mismatched shoes.    People can list single or odd shoes to sell and shop around for their own special needs.  All this is done in the privacy of one's home and completely eliminates the need to bicker over shoes at a department store.  But most importantly, sites like OddShoe help customers easily locate the shoe that fits – no matter the shoe requirements.  They turn what could be a demoralizing experience that requires way too much of a customer's time and money into something easy, fast, and cost-effective.