The ultimate disability inclusive Christmas gift guide
By AccessAble Ambassador Hester Grainger
Christmas time is coming - and it’s not that far off.
For this installment of The AccessAble Dispatch, Hester Grainger is taking over. She is a speaker and a coach at Perfectly Autistic, where she works alongside her husband Kelly; she has ADHD, and has 2 children who are autistic.
In this issue she has prepared a disability inclusive Christmas gift guide. Disability is a multi faceted part of life - and we want to reflect that in the content you see in this newsletter. We have also included a range of different price points and categories to suit a variety of ages and budgets, too.
It’s important to say - the products included in this gift guide are Hester’s personal recommendations and have not been tried or tested by AccessAble.
The fashion and beauty one
Form Norfolk – Knot necklaces, headbands and earrings – from £10
Form Norfolk have the comfiest headbands you’ll ever wear and amazing twist knot necklaces. They even come with magnetic fixing so no fiddly clasps to worry about. This is suitable for a range of conditions - and if you struggle with sensory issues, it can keep your hair at bay while still being stylish.
Born Anxious – Not Broken t-shirt £17.99
Sustainable and inclusive brand Born Anxious has such a huge array of sweatshirts, t-shirts and more, it’s hard to choose a design. Each item is printed individually and all items are made from organic cotton. ‘Not Broken’ is reflective of the social model of disability - in that society is the problem, not the person.
REN - Evercalm Redness Relief Serum from £28
This fast-acting serum acts to reduce redness, as well as to act as a protection against pollution. Bargain!
The foodie one
Thermos - Matthew Williamson Drink Flask - £30
Looking for a stylish cup that will keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold? The super light direct drink flask has 470ml capacity. It keeps hot drinks hot for 10 hours and cold drinks cold for 24 hours. An autistic or a person with other neurodivergent conditions may struggle to recognise their thirst - and this can be a helpful prompt.
Viners – 5 piece cheese serving set - £30.50
This cheese serving set is perfect for entertaining guests, offering style and sophistication. The premium stone board is hard wearing and ideal for keeping cheese cool. Each utensil is made from high quality stainless steel.
Resident Pheasant – Build Your Own Chocolate Box - £13
Wave goodbye to the unwanted stocking fillers that aren’t inclusive. It’s time to Build Your Own box of Christmas goodies. Containing exceptional, ethical chocolate - what’s not to love?
The special interests one
Playmobil Magnum P.I’s Ferrari - £69.99
Calling all 80’s TV fans! Do you remember the iconic Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum, P.I? Thomas Magnum and his moustache would solve criminal cases across Hawaii! This car is the perfect homage to the show. Several disability demographics have pointed to lego and playmobil being a part of disability culture, such as with internet parlance - and this is perfect.
Great Bean Bags - Gamer bean bag £112
Looking for a gaming gift? How about a Velvet gamer bean bag that has been designed specifically for long haul gaming session? Maintaining comfort with a supportive back, it ensures comfort during the edge of the seat moments. It’s perfect if you need alternative seating arrangements, and can be used in a variety of social situations, too.
Fuzzballs – £14.99
For the first time you can now own your own Fuzzballs! They are so cute, suitable from birth and lovely and soft! The perfect Christmas present for a child this year.
The hard to buy for one
Hello Day – Original 2024 planner - £46
This stunning Spiral Daily Planner is the ideal gift for getting sorted for 2024. It’s not only for staying organised, but keeping track of your wellbeing, mental health, goals and more. Each planner can even be personalised, for that extra special gift. If you struggle with executive functioning, processing, or just need a space to house all the ‘extras’ that come with disability, this is an ideal gift.
Mini Magic 8 ball - £10.99
If you know someone who is indecisive – give them the gift of a Mini Magic 8 Ball. Just shake, ask it a question and it will tell you the answer!
Pet Teezer – Detangling and Deshedding brushes - £11
If the person is hard to buy for why not buy their pet a gift instead? The Pet Teezer not only looks great but also super practical. It’s the perfect gift for a pet lover this year. Perfect also if you take care of a support animal.
ICYMI
What have we been up to at AccessAble recently? Well… here we are:
If you use a wheelchair, venturing out to get your Christmas shopping can have its challenges. On our blog we have put together a list of our accessible shopping tips.
Earlier this month we launched more Detailed Access Guides with Suffolk Growth - and you can find out more about that partnership here.
The Midlands Arts Centre has recently announced an exciting new partnership with Film Hub Midlands to increase the number of accessible screenings at MAC Cinema - and our blog editor, Pippa Stacey, interviewed producer David Baldwin to find out more.
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