It was just another morning for Helen Hignett-Clawson. The GMP police officer woke up and put her uniform on ready for her shift. Little did she know, mornings would never be the same again.
The mum-of-two would later suffer an attack so catastrophic it caused a severe head injury – leaving her disabled for the rest of her life.
The 40-year-old was serving as a police officer for Greater Manchester Police when the assault happened in a hospital car park in 2010. She was on duty when her handcuffed attacker struck her across the head multiple times. Sadly, the trauma sustained from the head injury led to her developing various health and mobility issues.
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Helen now suffers from acute hemicrania continua, a chronic and persistent headache. She also has severe hemiplegic migraines, migraines which mimic a stroke, leaving her temporarily paralysed down the right side of her body.
Over the last few years, the conditions have led to her blacking out and having seizures – as well as developing PTSD and fibromyalgia as a result of the mental damage she suffered. Helen says her attacker was not fit for arrest or to stand trial. Following the assault, they were taken back to a mental health facility.
“Six years later, I still don’t know when something will trigger an episode, which causes sudden paralysis on the right side of my body,” Helen from Middlewich, Cheshire, said.
“I once blacked out, collapsed and became unconscious whilst having a seizure. My daughter Mia, who was eight years old at the time, found me and saved my life. She subsequently received a Pride of Britain Award for the ‘Child of Courage’ category in 2021.”
Helen retired from the force with her range of debilitating conditions on Christmas Eve in 2016. Despite the struggles she faces, she has now taken the empowering decision to launch a new collection of adaptive clothing.
She plans to initially focusing on childrenswear in tribute to her 12-year-old niece Lilly, who has multiple developmental disabilities including autism.
The debut collection, from Adaptive Clothing UK, consists of everyday basics such as t-shirts, joggers and leggings, as well as sun safe swimsuits, vests and onesies. It is designed for children aged zero to 16 and will be manufactured in the UK.
“My mission is to help parents and carers to dress children who have physical limitations with more ease and less pain,” Helen said. “A lot of the clothes I have seen on the market for children with additional needs prioritise functionality over fashion.
“The closures are very visible, and there tends to be limited fabric options. I was determined, therefore, that our adaptive features would be concealed, and that the prints would be vibrant and contemporary.
‘All the labels are printed on the fabric, and we have consciously used flat stitching to minimise discomfort and any sensory triggers. We have added poppers in strategic locations to make dressing and changing faster – reducing discomfort and stress for everyone involved.”
Despite these challenges, Helen has continued to strive for self-improvement, since returning to higher education. She has now turned her attention to the world of clothes design where she hopes to have a positive impact.
Helen explained: “I am so grateful to my husband and children for helping me with dressing when needed, but a few thoughtful changes to the way clothes are designed could make life easier for us all.
“I knew I wanted to launch a clothing collection, but it’s my niece Lilly and her challenges that have made me focus my first ever range on babies and young people. I want to help create a world where children like Lilly, who is partially blind and has Sensory Processing Disorder, can experience clothes as an enabler rather than a barrier.
“An added bonus is that these clothes are inclusive for the whole family and not restricted to children with physical limitations, so any child can benefit from the ease of access.”
Helen is currently working to prepare for the release of her debut collection in Spring 2023. She will be sharing her journey, as well as taking advance orders, via her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/adaptiveclothinguk.
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