Are you looking for the perfect gifts for someone in a wheelchair? The holidays are getting closer, and a little research and planning ahead will help you get a thoughtful gift.
Thankfully, there are many well-designed products that make it easier for people with disabilities to do different things better or more comfortably. We got a head start and selected accessible gifts any wheelchair user will enjoy. Read on for our list of gift ideas for the different types of people with disabilities.
Accessible Products for the Techie in Your Life
- If you or someone you know find it hard to disconnect from a Macbook Pro or Windows Surface Pro, a good lap desk will do wonders for comfort and use. The LapGear XL is the most versatile lap desk on the market. It has a sturdy and stable work surface that shields your lap from a laptop’s heat, can accommodate a wide range of laptops (and depending on the laptop, even a mouse, smartphone, or notepad at the same time), and is the most comfortable lap desk to use for several hours at a time.
- No need to worry about tangled headphones anymore. The Jaybird Freedom Wireless Earbuds ensure you stay up-to-date with Bluetooth capabilities that connect easily to your phone or tablet. The sweat-proof design offers comfortable wear even long trips to the doctor or physical therapist. These wireless earbuds also feature a metal inline remote for use without a screen.
- The gamer in your life will appreciate the latest and greatest game console. The Nintendo Switch a multiplayer console for Mario Kart, and it comes with its own portable screen for console gaming on-the-go. You can use this console pretty much anywhere, making it ideal for gamers in wheelchairs. For games to get with the Switch, look no further than Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and NBA 2K18.
- Tumi Sling Backpack – Sling backpacks are ideal for swinging around the backs of powerchairs, and Tumi crafts the sleekest sling designs. They’re lightweight, and easy to travel with too. And if the Tumi backpack is just out of the price range, Patagonia offers a solid substitute.
Gifts to Improve a Wheelchair User’s Everyday Life
- For a cushion that travels with you, the Comfort Company AllRounder is incredibly adjustable and always comfortable. Strapping directly to the user around the waist and legs, it remains secure while enabling protection during transfers and for activities outside their wheelchair.
- A great upgrade to the wheelchair is to give seat comfort a well-deserved refresh or boost. Try out this gel cushion — it’s durable enough to never lose its shape, but fluid enough to be soft and supportive. Plus, its design ensures it stays cool.
- With the chair comes a tense neck and shoulders. This super-soft back and shoulder pillow targets pain relief, providing relaxing heat directly when in use. It’s customizable, with magnetic clasps and adjustable heat settings. Don’t expect this pillow to move once you set it in. And for something similar that travels well and keeps cool, look into the Infinity Pillow.
Gift Ideas for Adventurous People with Disabilities
- Achieve Tahoe provides winter and summer sports instruction at all ability levels for adults and children with disabilities. Based in California, the organization teaches people with disabilities how to ski, snowboard, kayak, and more. It’s a great way to reinforce healthy activity, explore the outdoors, and push boundaries.
- If you’ve always wanted try deep-sea diving, there’s a whole organization dedicated to teaching people with disabilities how to SCUBA dive. The Handicapped SCUBA Association makes it easier for people with disabilities to find instructors near them or even find a dive buddy.
Gifts for the Book Lovers
- For the latest #1 New York Times bestseller, look no further than The Rooster Bar. Bestselling author John Grisham’s newest legal thriller takes you inside a story about being duped out of a college experience.
- For someone who’s always reading on the go, look no further than the Kindle Oasis. With this, you have your entire Kindle library at your fingertips. The screen doesn’t get a glare, meaning it can be read in parks without a problem. And it’s also completely waterproof, ensuring any spills or drops won’t damage the device. As a bonus, it’s also integrated with Audible. If you have wireless headphones, this is a useful partner product for someone who likes stories.
- My Brief History recounts Stephen Hawking’s journey from his post-war London boyhood to his years of international acclaim and celebrity status. It’s packed with photos and has a concise, witty, and candid tone. Hawking also opens up about the challenges that confronted him following his diagnosis of ALS at age 21. For anyone that isn’t familiar with his accomplishments or personality, it’s a great introduction a Hawking rarely seen in his previous books — we see the inquisitive schoolboy, the inner prankster, and the ambitious father.
When gift shopping, think of it as an opportunity to add something special to that person’s life. Surprise and delight the people with disabilities in your life with any of these thoughtful gift this holiday season.
