Gift ideas for children with disabilities

Based on an article from  Occupational Therapy Now Magazine, (November/December 2003), pp. 5-9.

Elizabeth Steggles and Lindsay Kunkel

At a time of year when gift giving is important to many people, it is often difficult to find Christmas gifts suitable for children with disabilities. We were overwhelmed with the number of ideas that were sent to us by occupational therapists across the country and could not include them all, and so we have tried to highlight items covering a range of ages, abilities and interests. We have also provided the addresses of web sites worth browsing. Unless stated, all prices are in Canadian dollars and supplier information is Canadian. We have tried to ensure the accuracy of this information but cannot guarantee it.

We wish everyone a happy gift-giving season!

Toys

The Tug And Play Knot Block rattle has six sliding cords to hold, pull and chew. This rattle encourages bilateral play and the various sounds and textures provide multisensory input. This toy is part of the Lamaze Infant Development System.
Available from: Scholar’s Choice
Tel: (800) 265-1095  To view:   www.scholarschoice.ca
Price:  $19.99

The Whoozit Wiggle Ball is a colourful ball that encourages gross motor development. There are a variety of coloured ribbons to play with and pulling on the Whoozit activates a jiggle mechanism. The bright, bold patterns stimulate growing visual awareness.
Available from: Scholar’s Choice
Tel: (800) 265-1095   To view:  www.scholarschoice.ca
Price:  $19.99

The Easy Store Sand & Water Table is a multiple-use play table that provides ample room for a sand area and a water area. There is also a moulded roadway, a bridge and a harbour around the table. When stored the table provides a smooth play surface (supplies not included). 143-x-76-x-51 cm.
Available from: Scholar’s Choice Tel: (800) 265-1095
 To view:  www.scholarschoice.ca
 Price: $109.99

The Fishing Magnetic Game Puzzle helps children develop their dexterity, hand-eye coordination, visual perception and fine motor skills. The magnetic fish can be caught and then put back in the right place.
 Available from: Scholar’s Choice  Tel: (800) 265-1095
 To view:  www.scholarschoice.ca
 Price: $18.99

The Hop Ball comes in three sizes and is great for helping children develop balance, coordination and overall gross motor skills. It is recommended for children age six and up.
Available from: Scholar’s Choice
Tel: (800) 265-1095   To view: www.scholarschoice.ca   Price: $24.99

The Streamer and Rainbow Ribbon Activities is a cassette tape with modern, folk and soul music. It can be used in conjunction with the Rainbow Hoops described below and comes with a manual of activities to enhance the movement and fun.
Available from: Flag House Special Populations catalogue
Tel: (800) 265-6900  Price: $28.00 each. Cat. #5682

The Rainbow Hoops add a colourful addition to movement activities. The 13-cm (5-in.) rings are easy to hold and have seven tangle-free ribbons attached. Two lengths of ribbons are available.
Available from: Flag House Special Populations catalogue   Tel: (800) 265-6900
To view:  www.flaghouse.com
Price:  31-cm (12-in.) ribbons  $15.75 each. Cat. # 22718
          61-cm (24-in.) ribbons  $19.25 each. Cat. # 22867

The Frog Toss Ball is a great toss game that makes catching easier. When caught, the frog clings to the Velcro mitts. It promotes gross motor development, hand eye coordination and bilateral use of the hands.
Available from: Scholar’s Choice  Tel: (800) 265-1095  To view: www.scholarschoice.ca
Price: $11.99

The Murmel Igloo Tent and Murmel Tunnel
are good toys for indoor and outdoor play. They can be used in Combination with each other.
Available from: IKEA
Tel: (800) 661-9807
To view: www.ikea.ca
Price: $19.99 each

Switch-adapted toys

Switch-adapted toys often lead to repetitive activations that soon become boring. We suggest incorporating them into imaginative play. For example, consider using two switch-adapted toys; maybe a fire truck and a fireman climbing a ladder. Then add some props such as a rescue dog and a fireman’s hat and create a whole story… much more fun than watching the fireman go endlessly up and down the ladder!

The Big Water Toy is a switch-adapted toy that encourages sensory exploration. It is great for children with varying degrees of fine and gross motor skills. It is designed for children up to eight years. Simply fill the tray, hit a switch and water squirts out the hose.
 Available from:  Dragonfly Toys
 Tel: (800) 308-2208
 To view: www.dragonflytoys.com
 Price:  approximately $120.00

The All-Turn-It Spinner provides children of all abilities opportunities for interacting with their peers in a variety of games. Press a switch and both the arrow and inner overlays spin, allowing the spinner to make random selections. See web site for additional overlays and activity sets.
Available from: Bridges Canada  Tel: (800) 353-1107
To view:  www.bridges-canada.com   Price:  $145.00

The Radio Controlled Pitch and Hit was designed to encourage children three years and older to play ball with their peers. To send a pitch from anywhere, activate the switch and a radio signal makes the machine throw a ball. This machine throws fastballs and curveballs.
Available from:  Dragonfly Toys  Tel: 1 (800) 308-2208  To View:  www.dragonflytoys.com
Price:  $189.00

The Paint ‘N’ Swirl is a visually stimulating switch-adapted toy. Children can explore different designs and patterns by choosing different colour schemes. Kids can use the Paint ‘N’ Swirl for making pictures, decorations and gifts. Recommended for children aged 3-12; it’s great for children with varying abilities.
Available from: Bridges Canada  Tel:  (800) 353-1107
To view:  www.bridges-canada.com  Price:   $39.00

The Bubble Pro Bubble Machine can assist children up to 12 years to develop their visual tracking skills. When used creatively, children can explore movements at high, medium and low levels as they try to touch the bubbles. Simply add bubble solution and activate the switch.
Available from: Bridges Canada  Tel:  1 (800) 353-1107  
To view:  www.bridges-canada.com  Price:  $56.00

The Timed Toy Latch  is attached between the switch and the toy to control the operating time of the toy. Adjusts 1 – 30 seconds.
Available from: Flag House Special Populations catalogue
Tel:  1 (800) 265-6900  To view:   www.flaghouse.com
Price:  $175.00

Fruity Loops is electronic music creation software made by Cakewalk. It is available in two versions. Fruity Loops is quite complex (visually and intellectually) and requires mouse skills but it provides a creative musical outlet for those who cannot play traditional musical instruments.
Available from: Call Darrin Driscoll at Thinkware Canada for nearest dealer
Tel: 1 (888) 284-4659   To view:  www.thinkware.com  Price  $189.00 - $289.00

MIDImate is a device that allows people with physical disabilities to play music independently with a single switch. MIDImate consists of an LCD display, adapted switch inputs, a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) connection for connecting to electronic keyboards and a removable cartridge containing a microprocessor with software to play music.
Available from: Roger Knox at Bloorview MacMillan Centre
Tel: 1 (416) 425-6220, ext. 3316
To view:  www.assistiveX.com (search for MIDImate – case sensitive)
Price: $300.00 plus five cartridges @ $25.00 each

Virtual Music Instrument is a software program. A web camera linked to a computer (Windows 98 and up) is used to detect a child’s gross motor movements. The software then interprets the movements to produce sounds.
Available from: Tom Chow at Bloorview MacMillan Centre  Tel:  (416) 425-6220, ext. 3515
Price: approximately $150.00

Hand bells, tambourines, rain sticks, etc., are all good options and readily available from toy stores and educational suppliers.

Appliances

Ameriphone P300 Photophone enables people who cannot use numbers to dial nine stored numbers that are identified by a photograph or picture. The phone also has large buttons, good contrast and amplification on the handset.
Call Hall Telecommunications for the nearest dealer
Tel:  1 (800) 265-2667  To view:  www.clairityproducts.com
Price:  $79.95

Telemax Big Button Phone CP-8816. This speakerphone has large, easy-to-see buttons, and the user does not have to lift and hold a handset.
Call Hall Telecommunications for nearest dealer
Tel: 1 (800) 265-2667
To view: www.leiproducts.com (search for 8816)
Price:  $36.99

Adapted photography. Several cameras are available that have been adapted with an 1/8” jack so that they can be switch activated.
Available from: ORCCA Technology Inc.
Tel:  1 (859) 226-9625  To view:  www.orcca.com
Price:  $100.00 - $150.00 U.S.

FreeSwitch Max. This device enables the user to remotely control up to eight AC appliances such as blenders, hairdryers, fans, etc., by means of direct access or scanning. The switch can be used in a variety of modes to suit different abilities.
Available from: Bridges Canada
Tel:  1 (800) 353-1107  To view:  www.adaptivation.com  Price:  $504.00

Powerlink 3. This device enables the user to control four appliances such as blenders, hairdryers, fans, etc., by means of a switch. The switch can be used in a variety of modes to suit different abilities but does not have a scanning feature.
 Available from: Bridges Canada  Tel:  1 (800) 353-1107
 To view:  www.ablenetinc.com   Price:  $283.00

Weiser Lock Powerbolt 1000 provides keyless door locks and entry systems for people who cannot manipulate keys. Older children can let themselves into their homes. The Powerbolt operates on four AA batteries and permits access with your personalized code or a key. Powerbolt requires no wiring and replaces existing door hardware.
Available from: Hardware stores  To view:  www.weiserlock.ca  Price: approximately $236.00

Audio-visual equipment

The Weemote is a television remote control designed for children aged three to eight years. It offers simple controls with fewer buttons than a regular remote control. The buttons are well spaced and are a variety of shapes and colours. The Weemote also has a parental control feature so that only preprogrammed channels can be viewed. Available from: Fobis Technologies
Tel: 1 (877) 993-3668  To view:  www.weemote.com  
Price: $24.95 U.S.

The Tash Mini Relax is a scanning infrared transmitter that controls the TV, VCR or any other device that operates using infrared. It will store up to six functions. It has large, colourful graphics and provides visual and auditory feedback and features two scan modes. It is also available in a non-scanning version. This device is much more motivating than those that just turn A/V equipment on and off.
 Available from: Tash Inc.
 Tel: 1 (800) 463-5685  To view:  www.tashinc.com
 Price: $315.00 (system package)

The Switch-Adapted Boom Box has a CD player, AM/FM radio and a cassette player all in one unit. Simply plug your external ability switch into the radio/cassette jack to play music or plug your switch into the CD jack to activate your favourite CD. Comes with 1/8” jacks only.
Available from: Dragonfly Toys  Tel:  1 (800) 308-2208  To view:  www.dragonflytoys.com
Price:  $215.00

Clothing

Kutaways look like regular jackets but have many features to help wheelchair users. These include a high front zipper, a half back, ribbed cuffs or open sleeves, attached hat and coordinating mitts and zippered shoulder and hip openings that accommodate wheelchair straps. Other options are available and purchasers may choose the colour and pattern of washable, waterproof, breathable, Yukon Fleece.

Available from: Kutaways  Tel: 1 (905) 668-3765
To view:  www.kutaways.com  Price: $175.00 - $225.00

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank these people for their ideas and assistance: Janet Finlay, Elaine Kerr, Roger Knox, Teresa Mulligan, Anne Marie Renzoni and Sarah Sanders.

For more gift ideas visit the following web sites:
www.enablingdevices.com      www.hbc.com/zellers      www.premier.ca
www.theraproducts.com         www.toysrus.ca              www.walmart.com (U.S. prices only)