Buttonhook, circa 1885

Buttonhooks have been around for millennia. This age-old device with a slender hook helps grasp a button and pull it through a buttonhole. Buttonhooks proved invaluable when wearing tightly buttoned clothing or Victorian-era buttoned shoes. As fashion changed and alternative fastening devices were developed, buttonhooks seemed unnecessary; however, they have remained a valuable assistive tool for people with disabilities.