Finding the right fit

Growing up, Connor Griffiths was keenly aware of the impact shoes make on quality of life.

While on hiking trails during family trips to the mountains of Canada, he would watch his older brother, Michael, who has Down syndrome, fill with joy from being immersed in nature. And on the flip side, though Michael would never complain, Griffiths would see the blisters bubble up on his brother’s feet due to walking in ill-fitting sneakers that couldn’t properly accommodate his shorter and wider feet. The family learned to adapt, shortening hikes and spacing out activities to give Michael a much-needed break, but Griffiths often wondered if a better solution existed.

Now a first-year medical student at the University of Florida, Griffiths is spearheading a study to gather data on foot measurements of people with Down syndrome, who tend to have wider and shorter feet than others.