Holidays time and birthdays can be hard to know what to give someone who has vision loss. Here are some ideas that we have used in the past. I hope they help. Feel free to share more things below or on our Facebook page. We are always looking for good ideas that aren’t super expensive. I will try to list these ideas by categories. And I will probably miss some resources. I hope this is helpful.
Card Games:
Braille Uno Cards can be purchashed in Target stores, online at Target’s website https://www.target.com/p/uno-braille-card-game/-/A-76366384?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Toys%2BShopping_Local&adgroup=SC_Toys&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9010784&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&ds_rl=1246978&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw4jvBRCJARIsAHYewPOiHoOBTdaaeg8b0kdRsF0abEvN3xyYQv5_CEFSMle61Lj1SDsLhfsaAp-rEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds It is also offered online at Walmart and Maxi Aids.
Go Fish can be found in large print at Maxi Aids https://www.maxiaids.com/go-fish-flash-cards-classic-matching-card-game
Board Games:
One of our family’s favorites is Scrabble. Here is the low vision version: https://www.maxiaids.com/deluxe-scrabble-for-low-vision
Here is the braille version: https://www.maxiaids.com/deluxe-scrabble-game-braille-version
Dominos is another fun one! https://www.maxiaids.com/dominoes-with-raised-dots-double-nine
We need to also look at some practical gifts. Here are some items for those who are low vision. Most of these are from Maxi Aids but most can also be found on Amazon.
Practical gifts: Braille/ Large print Ruler https://www.maxiaids.com/tactile-braille-ruler
Talking English Tape Measure this goes to 16 feet! https://www.maxiaids.com/talking-tape-measure-english
Talking Clock https://www.maxiaids.com/curve-talking-clock
Keychains talking Clock https://www.maxiaids.com/oval-talking-keychain
Braille Watch (this link is to the ladies, but they do have men’s as well) https://www.maxiaids.com/ladies-braille-watch-chrome-steel-mesh-band-pink-dial
Ladies Braille and Talking Watch (this link is to the ladies, but they do have a men’s as well)
https://www.maxiaids.com/ladies-chrome-braille-and-talking-watch-exp-band
Talking Thermostat for Your House https://www.maxiaids.com/vip3000-talking-thermostat
Pill Box with Braille https://www.maxiaids.com/7-day-pill-monitor
Accessible Items for Everyday Life
Aluminum Braille Clothing Tags (These are shown in the post on doing laundry) https://www.maxiaids.com/aluminum-braille-clothing-identifiers
Talking Label Reader for bottles https://www.maxiaids.com/foxy-reader-talking-label-reader-organizer-recorder-mp3-player-set
Talking Color Identifier (there are also apps for those with smart phones that work like this.) https://www.maxiaids.com/the-talking-color-detector
Talking Food Can Labeler https://www.maxiaids.com/talking-food-cans
Here is the link to a list of dots that you can use for anything from the computer keyboard to the microwave and many more items. https://www.maxiaids.com/braille-tactile-voice-markers
Apps That are Very Useful
You can get them an Aira account. Aira has a free service that now has 10 min that are free a day, plus many airports have free access. https://aira.io/pricing
Money Reader apps https://nantmobile-money-reader-ios.soft112.com/ and http://www.looktel.com/moneyreader
Be My Eyes app connects volunteers to the blind person to help tell them what they see. And its free!! https://www.bemyeyes.com/
I hope this list gives you some ideas! There are many more items that can be useful, but it would run out of time to post them all. If you have other ones please let me know.