Inclusive by Design: The Story Behind BILLY Footwear

Most shoes are designed for the average foot and the average hand, and everyone else is left to adapt. BILLY Footwear was built on the opposite idea - universal design, where the same shoe is made from the start to work for as many people as possible, whether or not they wear a brace or have full hand mobility.

One shoe, designed for everyone

The breakthrough was simple: put a zipper down the side and around the toe so the upper folds completely open. A person who can't bend down, grip a lace, or force a foot past a stiff collar can still get the shoe on - often independently. And because it's the same good-looking shoe everyone else wears, accessibility doesn't come with a stigma attached. That's universal design working as intended: better for the people who need it, and better for everyone else too.

How inclusion shows up in the shoe

• Zip-around entry that opens the shoe flat for AFOs, orthotics, and limited dexterity.
• Multiple widths and removable insoles so different feet and braces fit comfortably.
• A full range of styles, so kids of every ability choose from the same designs.

Inclusion you can shop

The most accommodating styles, the CPMA-certified Goat and Classic D|R II, are engineered specifically for braces. Explore them in Kids' AFO Shoes, or see how the same design carries into looks kids love in our guide to stylish adaptive shoes.