Holiday gift ideas for kids and adults who have a disability

Buying gifts can be difficult, because it often seems like your loved ones already have everything. Toys pile up, clothes accumulate and you’re left scratching your head for what you can possibly buy that won’t become part of the clutter. Plus, when you’re buying a gift for someone with a disability, it can be even more challenging to find gifts they want and can independently use.

But there are options out there, and, using our unrivaled personal experience in the disability community, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 best holiday gift ideas for children and adults with disabilities. Going beyond just being fun, these gift ideas are also incredibly useful in helping your cherished friends accomplish new things, which is why they are sure to be appreciated!

1. Gift for the music lover who’s hearing impaired

The SoundBot SB210 Wireless Musical Beanie is a stylish beanie hat with built-in speakers that easily sit on top of hearing aids without compromising the aids’ functionality. Pretty “wow,” right? Eliminating the need to swap back and forth between hearing aids and earbuds or trying to squash headphones over behind-the-ear hearing aids, the SoundBot SB210 Wireless Musical Beanie is a must-have gift for the hearing-aid-wearing music lover in your life.

2. For the loved one who wants to be included in family game night

Family game night is no fun when someone feels left out, but the Ablenet All-Turn-It Spinner works to make sure everyone is included. A button activated spinner, the Ablenet All-Turn-It Spinner eliminates the need to physically roll dice. Requiring only the gentle touch of a button to electronically spin the Ablenet dice, the spinner is customizable for most games. You can even attach your own touch switch if desired.

3. For the person drowning in glasses

Just about everyone knows someone who seems to always be swapping out their glasses based on what's happening at the time. Situations like driving, reading, and watching TV might all require different prescriptions, but the 32°N Adaptive Focus Sunglasses handle it all in a single, smart frame.

When paired with an accompanying app that stores the wearer's prescriptions, simply swipe around the lens to adjust the magnification to the desired level. These were one of our favorite products we saw at CES 2022, and they're available for everyone to benefit from right now.

4. For the gamer with mobility limitations

Gaming has become a universal hobby, but, for persons with mobility limitations, accessing them can be a bit difficult. That’s why the loved one in your life with a physical disability is sure to appreciate Microsoft’s Adaptive Controller. Working predominantly with both Xbox and Microsoft PC, the adaptive controller utilizes large, programmable buttons and can be paired with a number of accessories to make most games easier to play.

If PlayStation is the preferred console, Sony's new Access Controller is an awesome option as well.

5. For the kid who seeks independence in their school uniform

Offering loop lifts, E-Z closures, tagless options and more, ​​​​​​French Toast Adaptive clothing aims to provide independence to kids looking for new school outfits. Classic in style, French Toast’s school uniforms look much like a standard school uniform, so that kids can gain both independence and inclusion. Whether you shop by school or size, this adaptive clothing option can’t be beat.

6. For the kid who needs a best friend

Moxie is the best friend that every kid needs, and it’s also an incredibly cool learning robot that was created to help any and all children learn social, emotional and life skills. Arriving straight from the Global Robotics Laboratory, kids must undertake the mission of teaching the robot how to be a good friend to others. Learning social emotional skills has never been this fun, or incredibly cute, before.

7. For the kid working to build their executive functioning skills

Working to hone executive functioning skills doesn’t have to feel like work when you are playing the SmartGames Shooting Stars 3D Skill-Building Puzzle Game. Consisting of just four color-changing game pieces, careful planning requires kids to use spatial insight, problem solving and concentration skills to solve eight different challenges. Aimed at ages six and up, this game is sure to keep kids busy all year long.

8. For the person who loves swimming

Swimming is fun for all ages, and, for those with limited mobility, the Nekdoodle Swimming Pool Float has made lounging at the pool a whole lot better. Providing stability, floatation and independence in the water, the award-winning Nekdoodle Swimming Pool Float comes highly recommended by therapists and Amazon users alike. It’s also available in eight different colors.

9. A tangram puzzle for a busy kid on-the-go

Bright colors, glittery, squishy, interactive and calming, the Fun and Function Busy Fingers Tangram Puzzle is a sensory delight! Promising hours of fun for little fingers and learning brains, this puzzle encourages quiet creativity. It’s also super portable, which makes it the perfect toy for travel, restaurants, doctor’s appointments or anywhere you need your busy little friend to be entertained.

10. For the tech lover who seeks independence

Whether your loved one needs to turn their lights on or off or call someone from another room, mobility isn’t required when you have an Echo Dot. Available in traditional Echo Dot and child-friendly Echo Dot Kids variations, the Echo Dot is a phenomenal tool for those whose disability benefits from the use of reminders, timers and gentle transitions. Did I mention it can also read a bedtime story?

11. For the person who loves to sleep

We all need a good night’s rest, but, for persons with anxiety, ASD, and depression, sleep may be hard to come by, or the overall quality of it may be poor. This makes the DreamPad Pillow such an amazing gift, because, with the simplicity of the incredibly comfortable DreamPad pillow set and a dash of your loved one’s favorite music or podcast, quality sleep is just a purchase away. Scientifically tested and sure to be appreciated, this is one gift that gives back night after night.

12. For the kid who needs a supportive or sensory friendly seat to chill out

Relaxing is only relaxing if the seat suits your needs, so if there’s a person in your life looking for a physically supportive and sensory-pleasing place to chill out, there’s no better gift than a Yogibo Lounger.

With a variety of shapes and more than 20 different color choices, Yogibo loungers are lightweight, flexible-yet-supportive and sport a cotton-spandex blend, machine-washable cover. Whether you’re looking for a chair to keep to sit upright or one that can melt around them in calming compression, there’s a Yogibo Lounger option for all ages.

13. For the high-energy kid who can’t sit still

It doesn’t matter how many games, puzzles, dollhouses or movies you own. If your little one can’t sit still long enough to focus, then they are totally useless as a means of entertainment. Crafted specifically to give sensory-seeking kids an outlet for movement while still keeping them seated, the Trideer Inflated Wobble Cushion is an Amazon reviewer favorite and comes highly rated in therapeutic settings. Available in five different colors, this wobble cushion is totally portable and very durable.

14. For the wheelchair-using fashionista

If there’s anything a lady loves, it’s a fashionable purse. However, if your loved one uses a wheelchair or a walker, a typical purse might be impractical. This is precisely why we are in love with the moBellaBags line of adaptive bags. Offering 10 different patterns in a variety of styles, these bags utilize stain-resistant fabric, a waterproof lining and offer multiple storage compartments.

15. A stocking stuffer for the sensory chewer

Finding stocking stuffers can be difficult when you have a child who runs the risk of putting small items in their mouths, but with the Sensory Chew Necklace for kids, you get the double bonus of finding a stocking stuffer and a practical item that kids with oral sensory-seeking tendencies will love. Available in cute designs such as the spider man symbol, a Lego and even a donut, these highly rated chewelry necklaces are made using food-grade silicone.