When it comes to finding the perfect gift for a loved one, it can be daunting, especially when that person has a disability such as visual impairment.
You know that buying a gift for them can be difficult.
You want to find something meaningful, but you don’t want to come across as patronizing or insensitive ...
You want to make sure that the gift will not only be appreciated but also beneficial to the person’s lifestyle ...
How We Find Them
Fortunately, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts out there that are ideal for someone who is visually impaired.
We did some searches and started off with some of the "legwork".
Whether it's a birthday, holiday, or just a surprise present, consider one of these thoughtful gift ideas --- not only are they useful, but they will also help remind them that you love and support them!
Tactile Gifts
Tactile gifts are great because they provide an experience beyond what we can see with our eyes. These types of gifts include items like
- textured jewelry,
- tactile-friendly puzzles,
Cuberspeed Blind Cube 3x3 Speed Cube Blind Cube Puzzle
- With different textures on each face. This difference in texture allows people with vision impairments to solve the 3x3!
- sculptures with raised designs,
- a unique necklace with braille lettering that spells their name,
- a 3D puzzle that they can feel in their hands instead of trying to find the pieces by sight,
Fun Games for Adults 3D Wooden Puzzle Brain Teasers and Educational Games, Wooden Puzzles to Challenging Puzzles
- for Adults and Brain Games for Kids Suit for Living Room (4 Puzzle Sets)
- a simple blank journal with raised dots or lines so they can feel where they should write, or
- a series of textures placed in various shapes that they have to identify.
Giving tactile gifts is an easy way to make someone feel special. Tactile gifts not only provide entertainment but also help build fine motor skills.
Not only are these types of gifts practical and useful, but they also show your loved one that you care enough to think outside the box and give them something special.
Audible Subscription: Talking Books/Audio Recordings
A great way to show your support and give something unique is an Audible subscription. With this subscription, your loved one can download and listen to books in audio format.
Audible & Kindle Unlimited Memberships: A Guide to Understanding These Two Amazon Subscription Services
- Kindle Edition
There are many different genres available, so there will always be something new and exciting for them to explore!
*Plus, if they already have an Amazon Prime account and/or Kindle Unlimited membership, they get even more out of their Audible membership with discounted prices on audiobooks.
Reading books is one of life’s great joys. For those who cannot read printed material due to vision impairment, audio recordings offer an easy solution. There are many audiobook libraries available online that offer thousands of different titles in both fiction and non-fiction genres.
*You could also consider recording your own stories or poems using voice recognition software! This would be a great gift for someone who loves literature and is unable to read it on their own terms.
Audible books are another great gift idea for someone who is visually impaired because they provide hours of entertainment without having to rely on sight.
- Audible books come in all kinds of genres and formats, so you can easily find something that your loved one will enjoy listening to; from classic novels and biographies to self-help books and audio dramas.
- There are even audiobooks specifically designed for people with visual impairments, which have added features such as adjustable speed narration and interactive menus so users can easily navigate through the content without needing to see it on a screen.
- Most audiobooks also come with bonus features such as bookmarks and annotations so your loved one can mark their favorite parts or jump back into specific sections quickly and easily.
Braille Watches & Clocks
If you’re looking for something more practical yet still special, consider getting your loved one a braille watch or clock! Not only do these watches look stylish and classic but they also make it easier for people with visual impairments to tell time without having to rely on someone else’s help.
Stainless Steel Tactile Watch
- (for the blind) Battery-Operated(Elastic Strap, Blue)
*Most of these also come with tactile features such as raised dots or bumps to ensure accuracy when setting the time.
**Additionally, these watches can often be customized with engravings or initials making them even more special!
A braille watch is a great gift idea for someone with vision impairment because it allows them to tell time without having to rely on others for help. The watch has tiny embossed dots that allow the user to distinguish the hour, minute, and second hands by touch alone.
Or, why not a talking watch?
Atomic Talking Watch, with Big Numbers, Quartz WristWatch
- Stainless Steel, Expanding, and Leather Strap
This makes it possible for them to keep track of the time while remaining independent! ... Just as well as a talking alarm clock like this one ...
Cirbic Loud Talking Alarm Clock with Time and Temperature
- For those with Low Vision or Blind
Accessibility Technology: Voice-Activated Assistants
Finally, if you're looking for something more practical than a gift just for entertainment purposes, then why not consider giving your loved one some helpful accessibility technology?
Technology designed specifically for those who are visually impaired includes everything from screen readers that read text aloud ... to apps that use facial recognition technology so users can identify objects around them without having to see them first-hand.
There are even voice-activated home assistants like Alexa, Amazon Echo, or Google Home.
Voice-activated assistants like Alexa or Google Home are great gifts because they provide an extra layer of accessibility to someone with visual impairments, to help make everyday tasks easier by providing weather updates or helping make grocery lists without needing vision at all.
These assistants allow users to check the weather, set alarms and reminders, and play music — basically, anything you could do online without having to look at a screen! Plus, since these devices are voice-activated they make it easy for anyone—no matter their vision level—to use them with ease.
Accessibility technology makes life much easier for those who have difficulty seeing—so why not give them a gift that will truly make their life easier?
The Takeaway
Vision impairments don’t have to limit anyone’s quality of life; there are many ways you can make life easier (and more enjoyable) for your loved ones with sight issues.
From tactile gifts and audiobooks to braille watches, there are plenty of creative and thoughtful gift ideas out there that will show your appreciation while helping enhance and improve their day-to-day lives!
With a little thoughtfulness, you can make sure they know how much you care about them no matter what challenges come their way!
You can show your love and give something that will last much longer than just one day!
Your Next Move
So if you find yourself struggling with ideas this year don’t worry — there's sure to be something special out there just waiting to be given!
We hope this guide has provided some helpful insight into what makes great gifts for those who have impaired vision.
So now, you can show your loved ones how much you care by giving them any one (or all) of these thoughtful gifts!
Good luck shopping!
Disclaimer.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We sometimes use affiliate links to products and services on retailer sites for which we can receive compensation if you click on those links or make purchases through them.
