As part of the 10th Internal Research Call, the Physiotherapy and Speech Therapy programs from María Cano, as well as the Professional Fashion Design and Clothing program from Pascual Bravo University Institution, are currently conducting research titled «The meanings of the body in older adults with disabilities and their experiences of social participation through the use of functional and adapted clothing.» This project explores the relationship between the body, disability, and social participation, focusing on the importance of clothing as an agent of change that influences people’s interactions with themselves and society. It emphasizes the need to consider social inclusion and potentialities in research from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Thus, within this process, this year marked the beginning of this initiative with a sensitization activity regarding disability, involving students from the Fashion Design and Clothing Professional Program, as well as students from the Neurorehabilitation and Social Inclusion research group of María Cano. The activity was coordinated by the project’s faculty researchers from the institution: Jhon F. Santos Gómez, Juliana Ramos, Angie Mesa Burbano, and from Pascual Bravo University Institution, faculty member Ángela Echeverri Jaramillo. This space was valuable for conceptual and practical approaches to the needs and potentialities in designing clothing for older adults with disabilities, serving as the foundation for the subsequent phases of support for the population.

As part of this research project, it is planned to conduct focus groups with a population of older adults with disabilities to document their social participation experiences, as well as their meanings attributed to the body and clothing. This is a key point when proposing functional and adapted alternatives to meet their needs, particularities, and potentialities through clothing design. It is important to highlight the relevance of such spaces for academic production, as well as the strengthening of inter-institutional ties and the impact on the quality of life of individuals. This specific meeting facilitated knowledge-sharing dialogues and the recognition of others as rights-bearing individuals, questioning the narratives of «normality» and ableist logics within society and, of course, its market logics, which affect the quality of life of people with disabilities.

Plan to participate in this week dedicated to physical activity and well-being, with activities designed for our national university community.