The Self-help Resource Center for Vision LossWelcome to Nancy's Gift Corner
Nancy Paskin, M.Ed., CVRT
Birthdays, special occasions and celebrations, and the holidays -- when you're stuck for a gift that is 'different,' practical, or a great treat, Nancy has some suggestions.
If you have other ideas, we invite you to participate in the VisionAWARE Forum and share your recommendations with all our visitors. Enjoy!
Please note: VisionAWARE.org does not promote, endorse, or receive financial gain from any of the products or services listed in Nancy's Gift Corner.
- Braille Jewelry
- Braille T-Shirts
- Sugar-Free Treats
- Cold Weather Gifts
- Functional Lighting
- Watches and Clocks
- Audio and Electronics
- Educational and Fun Toys
- Especially for Cooks
- Books
- Cruise or Vacation
- Special Holiday Customs
Fine and Fashion Braille Jewelry
Everyone likes giving and receiving jewelry, especially unique, handmade, and custom-designed items. You don't have to be blind or have low vision to appreciate the beauty of these unusual, finely crafted, and fun braille pieces — they're perfect for anyone on your gift list.
At First Sight: Fine and Fashion Braille Jewelry |
At First Sight promotes braille literacy within the blind and sighted communities by offering unique, handcrafted fashion jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, and one-of-a-kind items: |
Silver drop braille and stone earrings |
Bleeding Heart Initial Earrings in sterling silver are adorned with semi-precious stones and braille initials — "for everyone who has ever had her heart broken. $45.00. |
Silver and beaded braille bracelet |
The handmade beaded Blind Faith Bracelet in sterling silver is available in reds, pinks, purples, blues, greens, ambers, oranges, bronzes, blacks, grays, and creams. $350 |
Silver braille ring |
The Follow Your Dreams Spin Ring in sterling silver has a moving braille band that fits over a stationary inner ring. $60.00. |
Christiansen Designs
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The Braille Collection for men and women includes sterling silver and gold pendants, earrings, pins, rings and cuff bracelets, and men's key chains, cufflinks, and tie tacks: |
Silver brailled cuff bracelet |
The Live Laugh Love Cuff Bracelet is available in heavy gauge sterling silver for $55.00 (3/8" wide) or $70.00 (5/8" wide). Personalization is $20.00 extra. |
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Silver brailled triangular dangle earrings |
The Harmony/Serenity Earrings are available in sterling silver for $55.00 or 18-karat gold electroplate over sterling for $70.00. |
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Square brass brailled key chain |
The Solid Brass Key Chain can be personalized with up to seven braille characters. $40.00. |
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Braille novelties from the Future Aids — The Braille Superstore include key chains, pins, bracelets, letter openers, bookmarks, magnets, and holiday ornaments. |
Front and back of metal pocket token with rose |
Braille Pocket Tokens feature an engraved tactile design on one side, backed with a single word in raised braille dots. The "Love" token, engraved with a rose, would be perfect to slip inside a card for that special someone. Additional designs include "Friend," "Faith," and "Lord." $1.95 each. |
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Children's Silicone Wristbands and Adult Silicone Wristbands are available in a variety of colors and print/braille words and phrases, including "Cool," "Best Friends," "God Loves You," "I Feel Lucky," "No Doubt," "Social Butterfly," "Braille Is Cool," "Make A Difference," and "One World." $1.49 each. |
Silver beaded and brailled stretch bracelet |
Braille Alphabet Bracelets from National Braille Press are available in either silver or gold tone metal. Each bracelet is composed of individual tiles, separated by plain spacers on a stretch band. Each tile represents a letter, with braille on the front surface and engraved Roman type on the back. $35.00. |
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Silver penguin brooch |
Original designs, "crafted one at a time, by hand." Offers a wide selection of 14-karat gold and sterling silver figural and tactile animal jewelry , bracelets , brooches , necklaces , and seasonal jewelry . The Penguin Brooch is available in sterling silver for $55.00 or 14-karat gold for $265. It's perfect for the penguin lover on your holiday gift list! |
Gold maple seed drop earrings |
Offers an extensive selection of 14-karat gold and sterling figural and tactile pieces, including penguins, lovebirds, snowflakes, shoes, seahorses, fish, shells, cats, dogs, pumpkins, raspberries, and strawberries. Surprise your favorite nature lover with these Maple Seed Earrings , in sterling silver for $55.00 or 14-karat gold for $366. |
Braille T-Shirts
Consider a unique, custom-designed braille T-shirt for a friend or family member. Every purchase helps to promote braille awareness and the use of braille for children and adults:
Bronwen Tagoe wearing a Braille-A-Wear T-shirt |
Wearable, fun embroidered clothing, including T-shirts, tote bags, hats, and bibs, created by Deb Kersey-Tagoe and her daughter Bronwen Tagoe. Phrases include "Blind People Do It In the Dark," "Braille Is Beautiful," "Dots Talk," "Don't Trouch My Dots," and "Oy Vey." Prices range from $8.50 to $29.00. |
Purple brailled long sleeve T-shirt |
Hand-crafted men's, women's, and children's braille T-shirts use genuine Swarovski? crystals or metallic studs as braille dots. Standard grade two contracted braille phrases include "Brailliant," "Braille is cool," "Stop staring?" "Can't touch this," and "Feel the love." Also available in grade one braille. Prices range from $12.95 to $29.95. |
Custom-designed braille T-shirt or hoodie |
Create your own custom-designed braille T-shirt or hoodie. Choose your word or phrase (a maximum of 10 characters) and then select your T-shirt or hoodie style and color. Prices range from $16.50 to $34.50. |
Sugar-Free Treats
These delicious sugar-free treats make thoughtful gifts for friends, family members, teachers, and business associates.
Please note: Sugar-free items are not necessarily low calorie; in addition, individuals who have diabetes should always check with their physician or other health care provider before consuming sugar-free candy, cookies, or other food items.
James' and Bayard's chocolate and cookie gift basket |
James' Candy and Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy Sugar-free selections include Salt Water Taffy , Boardwalk Fudge , Bayard's Assorted Chocolates , and James' and Bayard's Gift Baskets . Prices range from $9.99 to $59.99. |
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Sugar Free Chocolate Cherries |
Sugar-free selections include Fruit Slices, Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies, Sugar Free Cherry Chocolates, and Sugar Free Pecan Caramal Patties. Prices range from $11.00 to $40.00. |
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Peppermint Patties |
Sugar-free selections include Peppermint Patties, Pecan-Almond Crunch, Old-Fashioned Cookies, Fruit Delights, and Peanut Butter Cups. Prices range from $6.99 to $60.00. |
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All-Occasion Dessert Box |
Sugar-free cookie and brownie gift baskets include the All-Occasion Desert Box ($45.95-$99.95), Winter Frost Gift Tower ($39.95), and Winter Gift Tin ($44.95). |
Happy Holidays braille chocolate bar |
Chocolate braille plaques embossed with "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." $10.95 each. |
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Choco Braille Greeting Card |
Embossed with one of 13 assorted braille greetings, including "Merry Christmas," "Happy Chanukah," and "Happy Holidays." $5.00 each. |
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Braille Chocolate Mold |
Make your own chocolate braille greetings cards. Phrases include "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." $4.95 each. |
Outdoor Gifts
These useful — and thoughtful — gifts can help keep you safe when you're working (or playing) outdoors.
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Stow-N-Go Wristband Wallet |
The Stow-N-Go Wristband Wallet has a built-in zippered pocket to keep cash, credit cards, and keys handy. The soft fleece wristband will also keep you warm during outdoor activities. Red, black, and sand. One size fits most. $12.95. |
Pocket Traction Pro treads worn over boots |
Pocket Traction Pro provides safer walking in snowy or icy conditions. Heavy-duty natural rubber and 1.4 mm coils of high strength steel are like tire chains for your feet that fit over the soles of your boots or shoes. Sizes S, M, L. $29.95. |
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And don't forget Spot (or Lucky or Rocky or Buddy or Sparky)The LED Dog Collar has flashing lights and bright reflective trim to make your dog more visible during evening walks. Has a 50-hour battery life. Sizes S-XL. $15.95. |
Functional, Stylish Lighting — Let there be light!
Consider a functional, stylish lighting gift for a friend or family member who has low vision:
Dual beam flashlight |
First Street — For Boomers and Beyond The Nightlighter Flashlight contains two distinct light sources (bright white 5mm LEDs) that work together to provide wide-area illumination and coverage. One light source shines on the area ahead, and the other illuminates the ground near your feet. $29.95. |
Avid Reader Natural Light Desk Lamp with white shade |
Gold Violin — Helpful Products for Independent Living The Avid Reader Natural Light Desk Lamp is a natural daylight lamp that can help make reading easier and more comfortable and reduce eyestrain caused by glare. An articulating arm directs the light where you need it, and the white linen shade helps focus light for reading. $70.00. Also available as a floor lamp for $120. |
Timepieces
An attractive, well-designed talking, large print, or tactile timepiece is always a welcome gift.
Fashionista Talking Watch with beaded stretch band |
Gold Violin — Helpful Products for Independent Living The Fashionista One-Button Talking Watch announces the time in a clear female voice. The beaded stretch band is available in abalone and black, crystal and gold tone, and crystal and silver tone. Has bold hands and numbers on a white or silver face. $60.00. |
Women's Braille Talk Gold Wristwatch |
"Braille Talk" Talking Watches provide the time in tactile raised dots and voice. These watches from Independent Living Aids are available in women's and men's styles. Options include a gold tone or silver tone face, an expansion or buckle band, and one-button (time only) or four-button (time and alarm) controls. $69.95. |
Silver Atomic Watch with expansion band |
Offers a wide selection of Talking Watches. Most prices range from $8.95 to 49.95. |
Talking Atomic Alarm Clock |
This Talking Atomic Alarm Clock automatically adjusts for either Daylight Saving or Standard time. Features include a female voice, high/low volume switch, an extra-long five-minute alarm, and large print numerals. $37.85 |
Audio and Electronic Gift Ideas
Audio and electronic gifts are always appropriate for a "techie" friend or family member:
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Audio Vision Canada online video store |
AudioVision Canada's online video store offers an extensive catalog of movies in DVD, VHS, CD, and cassette formats, all with audio description. Prices range from $29.95 to $199.95 for a boxed set. All cases are labeled in braille. |
The VictorReader Stream Player |
The VictorReader Stream is portable, lightweight, and plays DAISY, MP3, and NISO formats. It has advanced DAISY book features, can play National Library Service downloadable books and book cartridges, and has a USB port to transfer books and music from a PC. $329. |
Olympus Digital Voice Recorder and accessories |
The Maxi-Aids Olympus Digital Voice Recorder with 512MB of memory provides approximately 136 hours of recording time. Features include optional voice guidance for easy navigation, high-quality audio book and MP3/WMA playback, a large LCD screen with white backlight for easy navigation, and storage for 200 messages per folder. $199.95. |
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Talking Solar Powered Bible |
A resource for electronic and talking gifts of all kinds, including the Talking Solar Powered Bible ($99.95), the TapMemo Voice Activated Personal Digital Assistant ($159.00), the Voice Recognition Talking Universal Remote ($74.95), and a large selection of singing and talking plush cats ($4.95 to $31.95). |
Fun and Educational Gifts
These educational — and fun — toys can provide hours of family entertainment for children (and adults!) of all ages:
The Discovery Voice Changer VX-3 |
The Discovery Voice Changer VX-3 can change the pitch and sound of the user's voice at the touch of a button. Three voice options (amplify, echo, and robot) can disguise the voice to sound like a robot, an alien, or a monster. $19.95. |
The Electronic Hot Potato Game |
Toss and pass the Electronic Hot Potato Game from player to player until the music stops. The player left holding the potato collects a "potato chip" card, and the first player to collect three chips is out. Age 5 and older. $14.98. |
The GeoSafari Talking Globe and Talking Globe Junior |
Young Explorers Creative Educational Products The GeoSafari Talking Globe teaches children about geography the painless way. Asks and answers 10,000 questions about world countries, capitals, cities, rivers, and oceans. Skill levels and answer times for each player can be customized. Also available as a GeoSafari Talking Globe Junior, with five world categories, two skill levels, and an explorer mode for guided world tours. Both models are $89.95. |
Especially For Your Favorite Cook(s)
The cooks on your gift list will appreciate these well-designed kitchen items.
Cool Touch Oven Rack Guards installed on oven racks |
Cool Touch 18" Oven Rack Guard fit easily over the exposed sides of your oven rack using heavy duty snaps that are completely covered with fabric so they won't heat up. Made from NOMEX, a fire retardant fabric used by fire fighters and race car drivers, they are safe for temperatures up to 500 degrees. Measure 18 x 3 inches when fully opened. Machine washable. $19.95 for package of two guards. |
Gift Books
These unique gift books emphasize the limitless potential within all of us.
Art Beyond Sight Book Cover |
American Foundation for the Blind Bookstore Art Beyond Sight: A Resource Guide to Art, Creativity, and Visual Impairment explores all aspects of art and creativity by people who are blind or visually impaired. Developed by Art Education for the Blind, this fully illustrated manual is the result of a decade-long international collaboration among researchers, art educators, teachers, psychologists, museum professionals, and blind and sighted art enthusiasts. Paperback, ASCII on CD-ROM, ASCII on floppy disk, $79.95. |
Seeing Beyond Sight Book Cover |
Seeing Beyond Sight is a book of photographs taken by teenagers who are blind or have low vision, and documents how educator Tony Deifell taught his blind students to take pictures as an innovative, multi-sensory means of self-expression. Hardcover, $24.95. |
All Children Have Different Eyes Book Cover |
All Children Have Different Eyes is an illustrated story book that empowers children with low vision to take on the social challenges of daily life, such as how to deal with bullies, explain their condition confidently, enter play groups, and handle mistakes responsibly. Activities in the back of the book help parents and teachers reinforce and support social skill development. Hardcover, 48 pages, $16.95. |
Vacations and Special Holiday Customs
A cruise or vacation package is always a welcome gift at this time of year.
Outta Sight Travel specializes in vacations, cruises, and tours for people who are blind or have low vision. Outta Sight helps with planning destinations that accept service animals, procuring documentation, and providing travelers with itineraries and information in accessible formats. E-mail: drtravel@bellsouth.net.
Holiday Customs and Gifts |
And finally, here are some additional links that explain a range of holiday customs and provide appropriate gift ideas: |
| Hanukkah Gifts | How To Buy Hanukkah Gifts |
| Kwanzaa Gifts | How To Buy Kwanzaa Gifts |
| Facts About Eid-al-Adha | Islamic Gifts |
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