Do people ever ask what they can get you for a gift—something that’s helpful for your vision—and you’re not sure what to say?
Here’s a list you can share. These ideas come straight from people living with vision loss—popular influencers you may already know—plus some useful items from members of the Hadley community.
Great Gift Ideas from Vision Loss Influencers
- Dorrie Rush, OE Patients
Dorrie offers useful recommendations on this OE Patients list, like Large Print Playing Cards (Amazon), AutoDrop eye drop guide (Amazon), and much more.
- Sam Seavey, The Blind Life YouTube Channel
Sam tests all kinds of high- and low-tech tools, and shares his discoveries and recommendations on his YouTube channel. In the Hadley Presents episode Tech Tools for Vision Loss, From Low to High Tech, Sam recommends this talking thermometer from the Blind Kitchen:
“One of my . . . absolute favorites that was a game changer for me in my life, is a talking food thermometer. It's so simple, . . . but can be a huge improvement in your life . . . being able to put the thermometer in there and push a button and have that temperature read out loud to me . . . It's safe. It just brings a lot of peace of mind.”
- Debra Erickson, The Blind Kitchen
Speaking of the Blind Kitchen, Debra offers a top-ten best gifts for someone with vision loss. In the Hadley Presents episode In the Kitchen with Vision Loss, Debra recommends one of those items:
“A cut glove would be one. That's a relatively thin glove that you wear on the hand holding the food, and you can literally run a knife back and forth on the palm of that. You'll feel the pressure and you'll feel the movement, but it won't cut through.”
- Molly Burke, YouTube channel
In one of her YouTube gift guides, Molly recommends fidget toys like pop-its and tear-drop fidgets. She notes they might sound juvenile, but they make up for reduced visual stimulation and keep her focused during movies or audiobooks. Others also say how fidget toys help ease anxiety during laser treatment. You can find some on Molly’s Amazon list.
Things Members of the Hadley Community Find Useful
Here are items our members often tell us they appreciated learning about:
- Dome magnifiers are easy to slide across a page, great for reading mail or product labels—Handheld Magnifiers workshop.
- Yellow notepads with bold, heavy lines and bold-ink pens make note-taking or list-making much easier—Taking Notes workshop.
- Tinted plastic sheets help for reading—Glare workshop.
Suggestions from the Hadley Team
Hadley team members with vision loss shared their gift ideas in the Hadley Presents episode Holiday Gifts and Vision Loss. You can sit back, relax, and see if any of their suggestions should be on your wish list.
And the Hadley community would love to hear your ideas! Please add them in the Comments below.
Hadley is here to help with practical resources and emotional support for older adults with vision loss.
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