As we hurtle through the calendar, towards Christmas Day, it could easily turn into the perfect time to panic about presents. But fear not, we’re here to help out those people looking for something for somebody less able. We’ve come up with a few extra, last minute stocking filler ideas with an eye on disability. They should be really helpful or fun for less able friends and family.
First of all, Flexyfoot ferrules are innovative tips for the ends of crutches and walking sticks. Their flexible and shock absorbing design means that they are more comfortable and grip to surfaces better than your average mobility aid. They’re a nifty little tool to make life a bit easier, showing that sometimes a tiny change can make quite a big difference. They cost £10.99 from the Flexyfoot website or you can get them for the same price from Boots (we’re not sure if all Boots stores will have them in stock but you can get them delivered within 24 hours).
The Flexyfoot team have also designed a cool new walking stick which looks pretty stylish. As with the ferrules, this provides some extra comfort and support. It’s £39.95 so it’s probably a little more than a stocking filler.
For anyone who needs, but often forgets, to take their pills, a pill container with an inbuilt alarm could be a good and cheap idea. If the pills are inside the alarm, it’s difficult to forget to take them. We haven’t found one that we think is truly stylish and desirable but we intend to keep on looking. Until then, there are loads of pill containers with alarms on Amazon.
Whilst we’re on pills (meaning on the subject of pills; not ON pills) another possible stocking filler is a key ring pill holder. These capsule key rings are a handy and discrete way to carry your pills if you need to take them while you’re out and about. There are lots of them all over internet stores like Ebay and Amazon which should be able to get to you just before the big day.
David Weir, one of the poster boys of London 2012, has a candid autobiography, titled Weirwolf, out just in time for Christmas. It’s an engaging and inspiring story of how he battled his way past opponents and prejudice to become a Paralympic legend. This is a perfect present for anyone who loves sport and rightly counts Weir as a role model.
(Going completely off topic, any fan of Anchorman is bound to find the Ron Burgundy book hysterical. We’d highly recommend it).
Back to less able focused stocking fillers, Aussie comedian and host of The Last Leg (one of the few positive programmes featuring disability and one of our favourite shows), Adam Hills has a new stand-up DVD. The show’s called Happyism which really sets the tone for the whole thing – upbeat, fun and, all importantly, funny stuff. It’s been critically acclaimed and is widely available to buy everywhere you’d expect, for about ten or twenty pounds. Hills’ Last Leg co-star, Josh Widdicombe, has a new DVD out too!
Stylish Blue Badge holders are an idea that fits so much with the Blue Badge Style name that we have to suggest them. There are quite a lot of attractive and nicely designed holders out there or you can quite easily re-brand a correctly sized wallet as one. We’d suggest parking badge holders at The Blue Badge Company (in no way affiliated with BBS) on Amazon. They have cheerful designs and cost £10-15.
Talking watches are ideal for children with limited sight or simply to help children learn how to tell the time. You just press a button and the watch tells you the time out loud. These Lifemax watches are some of our favourites. They look rather nice and are easy to read too. They’re £25.30 on Amazon and come in two colours – blue, presumably for a boy and pink for…well you get the idea.
That’s all folks but we do want to say, once again, that we generally say that you don’t need to focus on your friend or family member’s impairment too much when shopping for them. Just make sure that whatever you get them is OK for them to use.
For more inspiration, check out our previous present guides (see below). Happy Christmas!!!
Xmas Gifts For That ‘Less Able’ Friend or Family Member
Xmas Present Ideas For Less Able Kids – Fun First, Suitable Second