Tips and Hints: Gift Suggestions

Gift Ideas

During the meeting of the Cleveland MVRF SupportSight Visionaries, one of the daughters of a mother with macular degeneration told a story. She explained that last Christmas, as in all of the ones before, she gave her mother a family portrait. However, last Christmas was not like the others because her mother’s sight was greatly diminished by macular degeneration. Her mother opened the usual gift, lifted the top, looked in the box and asked, “What is it?” The whole family was distraught.

Karen Carmen, Community Services Director for the city of Beechwood, Ohio, helped create this gift list for those with macular degeneration.

  • Lighted flashlight keychain
  • Carabineer — originally used in rock climbing and great for clipping keys to and then clipping the carabineer to a purse or belt loop
  • Large print calendars
  • Large print playing cards
  • Large print bingo cards
  • Large print address book
  • Large print outdoor thermometer
  • 20/20 pens
  • LED flashlights
  • Large Scrabble set
  • Local restaurant gift certificates (especially if they deliver)
  • “Reader’s Digest” large-print subscription
  • Movie theatre passes/gift certificates
  • A home-made stationery kit with plain white pads of paper, some with thick black lines
  • A talking clock with extra batteries
  • A talking wrist watch with extra batteries
  • A new wallet with distinct compartments so people will be able to find money, medical information, charge cards, etc.
  • A children’s (large buttons) tape recorder for books-on-tape with extra batteries
  • A large button phone
  • A large button TV remote
  • A new family directory with everyone’s home, work, and cell phone numbers in large print so people can call everyone when needed
  • A talking picture frame (I saw one at a photography store where you can record a greeting)
  • Video gift certificates
  • Last year we all contributed to a large screen TV which she enjoys.
  • A selection of greeting cards in envelopes according to what they are because she cannot read them in the store.
  • Not for my Mom but there are companies that “clean-up” after dogs in the yard….Doggie Do Do gift certificates.
  • Adaptive computer programs if appropriate.

Posted on May 30, 2005