During World War II, Charles and Ray Eames created transport splints for wounded soldiers. While caring for the wounded, Dr. Howard Rusk noticed that his patients were healed, but unable to work. In response, he developed rigorous rehabilitation programs to help veterans adopt a “do-it-yourself” mentality. He applied these same methods for treating disabled civilians at New York University’s Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, where Helen Cookman had the idea for Functional Fashions.