Ready or not, the holidays are right around the corner. This December 2024 Community Corner is dedicated to disability-friendly gift ideas.
The Lego Play with Braille Set is a wonderful gift option for children six and older who are blind or have a visual impairment. The complete set includes two baseplates, over 280 bricks with studs that correspond to the printed numbers and letters in the Braille code, and six play starter activities to explore digitally and in print. It is designed to allow children who are blind to practice their communication skills while allowing them to learn and play with their entire family. Reviewers say that it does just that and is very worth the $90 it costs. The set is compatible with all other Lego products as well as the Be My Eyes App, an app that allows those who are blind to connect with sighted individuals on demand and ask for assistance. The set is available in English, Spanish and French. The Lego Play with Braille Set can be found here.
A 3D Tactile Cube is a great, more cost-effective gift option for slightly older children or adults who are blind or have visual impairments. Braille is embossed onto the cube, making it solvable by touch for everyone from cube beginners to professionals. The lightweight cube is designed to be comfortable in the hands of the user, helps to reduce stress, exercise the brain, improve memory and practice hands-on dexterity skills. The cube is portable and can be taken anywhere. For just $17, the cube provides hours of enjoyment. The 3D Tactile Cube can be found here.
The Vibio Bluetooth Bed Shaker is a good gift option for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The bed shaker fits nicely under a pillow or mattress and can be controlled via a mobile app that is compatible with Apple and Android devices. People can choose the level of vibration that works best for them from strong to soft, making it suitable for even the heaviest of sleepers. Users can set notifications to have the bed shaker let them know if they receive a call or text message. At $99, the Vibio Bluetooth Bed Shaker is more expensive than other vibrating alarm clocks, but reviews say that it is well worth the investment. The Vibio Bluetooth Bed Shaker can be found here.
American Sign Language (ASL) scrabble titles are another good gift options for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The set of 100 wooden tiles have clearly printed hand signs and point values on them. Two blank wild card tiles are also included in the set to use when playing scrabble. Although a game board is not included, most people find the $17 tile set to be a good value. According to reviews, teachers find the tiles to be a great help with finger spelling practice. Furthermore, not only are the tiles great for ASL beginners, the tiles are also great for those looking to further master existing ASL skills. The ASL scrabble tiles can be found here.
Kinetic Sand is a popular gift option for those with Autism and/or sensory sensitivity disorders. Not your typical sand, this comes in a variety of bright colors, lets people squish and mold and shape it into anything without adding water. Kids can build, cut, mush, and squeeze for hours of satisfying play and fine motor skills tuning that encourages sensory exploration and creativity. According to reviews, at just over $25 a six-pound bag of Kinetic Sand is well worth its value. Working with kinetic sand is also said to have a calming, stress-relieving effect on older kids and adults with Autism. Kinetic Sand can be found here.
A Jellyfish lamp is another creative gift for older kids and adults who have Autism. The Deluxe Jellyfish Lamp by National Autism Resources is a great option. The lamp will bring the look of a beautiful saltwater aquarium to a home, school or office without the responsibility of feeding or cleaning. This soothing aquarium switches from five different LED colors: red, yellow, green, blue and pink. The lamp is meant to create a visual focal point to help promote relaxation and reduce feelings of nervousness. The lamp comes with a low voltage AC adapter. To set up the lamp, place the included jellyfish inside the aquarium, add water and a few drops of dish soap, plug it in, and enjoy. A $110, the lamp is expensive, but reviews indicate that it is a worthwhile purchase because it does have a very calming effect and can be enjoyed by anyone. The Deluxe Jellyfish Lamp can be found here.
A digital calendar clock is a wonderful gift option for those with a cognitive disability. While there are many digital calendar clock options, the one by Soobest seems like it would be particularly helpful for those with cognitive disabilities. The digital calendar clock has up to 12 sets of alarms and allows users to set up to eight different kinds of reminder with colorful icons to tell them the correct time and remind them that something needs to be done. The volume of the alarms can be adjusted from one to ten. The advanced digital display is adjustable and has five different levels of brightness and will display six different times of day including morning, afternoon, evening, night, midnight, and pre-dawn. Reviewers say that the $30 digital calendar clock is very helpful and worthwhile investment for those who have cognitive impairments as well as the elderly. The digital calendar clock can be found here.
A to do list note pad is another gift idea that could be helpful to those with cognitive impairments. The spiral bound daily to do list note pad made by Of A Happy Kind is a good option because the note pad is broken up into multiple functional sections like ‘to do’, ‘for tomorrow’, ‘top priorities’, ‘appointments/calls,’ and ‘notes’. The functional sections make it easier for those with functional impairments to stay organized. According to reviews, the layout of the $8 note pad is easy to understand and helps users to stay on task. The daily to do list note pad can be found here.
The LapStacker Carrying System by Adaptdefy is a practical holiday gift choice for those with mobility impairments who are wheelchair users. The system which is designed to fit most wheelchairs consists of straps that click together and can be safely installed onto a wheelchair in under five minutes. The system reduces the embarrassment, frustration, and potentially costly damage for people in wheelchairs by allowing them to safely and securely hold their belongings on their laps. Ranging from $119 to $149 depending on the type of wheelchair that the user has and the size of straps needed, the carrying system is costly. Despite its cost, the LapStacker is highly rated and has many positive reviews. Many users say that the system has increased their level of independence and been life-changing for them. The LapStacker Carrying System can be found here.
A hanging accessories bag is a useful gift choice for those with mobility impairments who use crutches. The crutch bag pouch by Archerest is one such option. The accessories bag/pouch comes in a sleek gray design, is adjustable in length, and has multiple pockets that allow users to carry their wallets, keys, phones, and other items safely while using their crutches. The pouch is made of a lightweight, waterproof, machine washable material that makes it convenient for daily use. Reviews say that this $20 bag is a wonderful accessory for those with crutches because it holds quite a bit and allows them to travel confidently. The pouch can be found here.
The ACIL Staff hope that you find this disability-friendly holiday gift guide helpful and that you enjoy your holiday season regardless of how you celebrate.
