Deborah Kendrick
Whether the pandemic has meant that time flies or crawls for you, the reality is that another year has gone by and we are ALREADY HERE AGAIN IN THAT LAST STRETCH OF THE YEAR. Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday – where, after all, the only requirements are that you cook and/or consume lots of delicious food and hang out with people you actually enjoy spending time with – but on the heels of that festival of gratitude tis the season that includes brightly wrapped packages and creative generosity. If you believe, as I certainly do, that there is every bit as much joy in giving as receiving, then you want to tailor your gift ideas as closely as possible to each friend or family member on your list.
For some of us, imagination and creativity are so abundant that generating creative gift ideas is as easy as, say, making a list and checking it twice. For others among us, divining what those gifts ought to be can create a certain dread or anxiety.
No matter which category fits you, I have tried once again to compile a list of suggestions for a variety of gift recipients, and have managed to keep most of these suggestions under $100. Best of all, (and this is the gift I am giving to myself) I have included a number of blind business owners and artisans. Oh, yes, and all of the gifts included in this years holiday gift round-up are ones that could be appreciated by someone who is blind or low vision (just in case you might want to wrap something up for your very own self!)
Some easy techie ideas
Since AccessWorld is a technology magazine, after all, let's talk first about the easy and affordable tech ideas. Whether you are bringing someone into the world of 21st century technology or simply augmenting an existing collection, smart speakers continue to be wildly popular and entertaining products. You can get a Google Nest Mini or Amazon Echo Fourth Generation for under $50. You can hear news, music, entries from Wikipedia, games, jokes, and more on a seemingly endless number of topics, get sports scores, word definitions, and oh so much more from these ever-evolving devices. If your lucky gift recipient is new to the smart speaker realm, you might add your personalized installation assistance as part of the gift and/or an audio tutorial. Mystic Access offers audio tutorials on these devices and others.
Another low-cost and powerful technology gift under $100 is the Amazon Fire tablet. This is perhaps the least expensive inroad to mobile and accessible technology. You can play music, games, and news reports, send and receive email, and listen to books. With the built-in Voice View screen reader and Amazon Alexa, it is completely accessible and entertaining. Some braille displays can be paired with a Fire tablet, thus minimizing the need for onscreen typing or gestures. Again, you might include a Mystic Access audio tutorial as part of your gift.
All about that braille
Readers and writers of braille love anything connected with braille, and there are a few new and fun products. For writing short temporary bits of information in braille, the Versa Slate is one of those products that will make you wonder why it took so long for someone to develop it. Four lines of 20 cells each contain mechanical braille dots. Magnetically affixed at one end is the stylus. Write a phone number, order number, web address, a few key words of a fact you need to pass along, etc., and then with the press of a few buttons, clear the slate later for another use. When buttons are pressed, the pins/dots retract and thus are ready for another use. For anticipated larger use, buy two of them and the custom frame to contain them, thus creating a larger surface of eight lines. For really small notes, the mini version of the Versa Slate offers 2 lines, 12 cells each, also sporting an attached stylus, and can fit easily into any pocket. Versa Slates and cases available from A. T. Guys.
And if you enjoy reading braille as much as writing it, here are a couple companies who proudly display braille for identification on much of their packaging.
Dedicated to organic and sustainable products for personal and home care, Cleanlogic sweetens the purchases by adding braille to many of their packages. Sponges, gloves, back scrubbers, exfoliating cloths, and more are available as individual items or in gift sets designed for the sports lover, the home, or the person with sensitive skin. All products are affordably priced (from $10 to $50) and combine cleaning, detoxifying, and sustainability. Visit CcleanLogic.com.
French soap and cosmetic company L'Occitane en Provence, has been adding braille to many of its packages for over 20 years. Beautiful face, hand, and body care products containing scrumptious fragrances will tempt you to buy a little something for yourself while shopping for others for sure! Try the classic shea butter hand cream or shea shower sets in scents from almond to cherry to verbena. Items are luxuriously presented and almost always labeled in braille. Visit the website or call (888) 623-8820.
If you're lucky enough to have a L'Occitane store near you, drop in for the sheer joy of browsing the shelves. Inhale the sweet smells of soaps and perfumes while reading braille labels – the experience is a gift in itself!
Hand-crafted beauty
Ray Wright is a blind artist and entrepreneur who makes a wide variety of beautifully crafted hand-turned wood objects. Woods from around the world are used in creating anything from seam rippers and key chains to bottle stoppers, smartphone stands, ball point pens, or cutting boards. For the younger (or young at heart) family or friends, try a wooden top or magic wand. All prices are well under $100. Visit www.wrightturnonly.com or leave voicemail or text at 801-560-9866.
If you have a friend to whom you'd like to introduce the joy of making craft items by hand, Mitsy Kits offers a variety of kits from basic and easy to intermediate and complex. Pillows, tote bags, blankets, and much more are available. Typically, everything you need to make the finished product is included. Best of all, kits are designed with blind crafters in mind – incorporating the company's patented tactile sewing system and clear directions in accessible formats. Visit www.mitsykit.org or call 978-419-1824.
To your health
The pandemic has all of us thinking more about staying healthy, and Guidelights and Gadgets is offering a wonderful bundle of accessible healthcare products. Talking infrared thermometer (just point is at the forehead and squeeze the trigger), talking blood pressure cuff, and talking oximeter (place it on your finger to hear announcement of oxygen level and pulse rate), can be purchased for $50 each or as a bundle for $142, including shipping. Guidelights and Gadgets is another blind-owned business, and offers a variety of other tech accessories, leather products, dog toys, and more
Visit their website, email bscheur@scheur.com or call 617-969-7500.
Finally, remember that one of the best gifts we can give to anyone is shared experience. Share a meal, a book, a movie at home or away. If you rely on resources already available to you, all you'll spend on that gift is your time – and you and your loved one will both have a special memory to treasure.
