When we think about the challenges faced by young people with disabilities, we often think of care, medical appointments, or the need for assistance. Yet a much less visible reality often goes unnoticed: at mealtimes, many teenagers and young adults are still wearing bibs designed for babies.
Why? Quite simply because there are very few solutions designed for their reality.
A market where options are almost nonexistent
The mealtime protectors currently available are mainly designed for two groups: young children and older adults who are losing their independence. In between, teenagers and young adults with multiple disabilities are largely overlooked.
Families are therefore left with products that do not reflect their age, their needs, or their everyday reality.
More than protection: a matter of dignity
Clothing is never purely functional.
During adolescence, it becomes a way to express personality, feel like you belong, and be part of a group. Young people with disabilities also deserve clothing that respects their age and identity.
Using a baby bib may seem insignificant. Yet this simple item can contribute to a sense of infantilization, both for the person wearing it and in the way others perceive them.
A solution designed for young people
This is precisely the need that inspired Le Tablier.
Rather than a simple bib, we designed a mealtime protector that feels more like a real garment: a longer cut adapted to a seated position, durable materials, local manufacturing, and illustrations created by Québec artists.
Because a care garment can also be beautiful, comfortable, and respectful of the person wearing it.
Making everyday life feel more normal
Mealtimes are moments of connection, whether at home, at school, or in residential settings. Our goal is simple: to help young people with disabilities take part in these moments wearing something that feels more like what other people their age wear.
At Le Tablier, we believe dignity is also built through the small moments of everyday life. Sometimes, replacing a bib with an adaptive garment can make all the difference.
Would you like to discover our mealtime protector or learn more about our mission? Explore our collection of bibs designed in Québec for teenagers and young adults with multiple disabilities.