The winter holidays are upon us, and it’s now time for gift-giving to members of the family and family members. Socks are so Nineties, resist the urge! Purchase the wheelchair person in your life one in every of these considerate items to assist elevate their accessible journey sport.

Microsoft Adaptive Equipment for PCs and Gaming

Microsoft is among the most forward-thinking manufacturers with regards to accessibility, and the expansive line of Microsoft Adaptive Equipment for PCs and Gaming is a superb instance of their dedication to equal entry.

Created in partnership with folks with disabilities, Microsoft’s tailored equipment are designed to help quite a lot of wants — unlocking the ability of computer systems and gaming consoles for many who are unable to make use of conventional interfaces or controllers.

Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive Trend

In 2017, Tommy Hilfiger launched the Adaptive Assortment to assist folks with mobility challenges, restricted dexterity, lacking limbs, and different disabilities that make getting dressed troublesome.

Items within the assortment characteristic cleverly-concealed diversifications equivalent to magnetic closures, one-handed zippers, and prolonged openings. Not solely is the Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive Assortment extra accessible, however it’s fashionable too!

Wheelchair Barbie and Ken Dolls

2023 was the 12 months of Barbie, after the discharge of the blockbuster movie. Now, followers younger and outdated can rating a Barbie doll with a wheelchair or a Ken doll with a wheelchair! Or, you should purchase each to attain the set!

Mattel’s current dedication to inclusion has seen a higher vary of various Barbie dolls enter {the marketplace}, and it’s thrilling to see incapacity represented. Younger kids now see themselves on this iconic toy, and I’m not embarrassed to confess — I’ve simply bought a set for myself to show on a bookshelf. The dolls will make an ideal dialog piece and mark an essential second in incapacity inclusion.

This can be a implausible reward or stocking stuffer that can give disabled folks peace of thoughts when touring, and assist make discovering misplaced gadgets simpler — even at dwelling! Each traveler ought to have a set of Apple AirTags!

Connect an Apple AirTag to your checked baggage, wheelchair, backpack, or anything that’s essential to you — it is useful when monitoring down misplaced or misplaced gadgets, and you’ll set an alert to remind you when one thing has been left behind.

Alexa-Enabled Merchandise that Help Voice and Cellular App Management

Have you ever ever transferred into mattress, solely to appreciate that you simply left the TV on, or the kitchen gentle? Did you overlook to regulate the thermostat? It’s such a ache when that occurs or, a minimum of, it was.

Now, my condo is Alexa-enabled, that means I can management any variety of lights and home equipment with a contact of the button on the Alexa app, or with a voice command. Listed below are just a few merchandise that can get you began in making your own home smarter:

• Amazon Alexa Echo Dot — I’ve an Echo Dot machine positioned in three completely different locations all through my condo: the lounge/kitchen, bed room and toilet. The Echo Dot is the machine that listens for my voice instructions, solutions questions, reads my notifications, and performs music once I ask it to.
• Govee Sensible Mild Bulbs — These Alexa-Enabled Mild Bulbs will permit you to flip your lights on and off with a voice command, whereas adjusting the colour and brightness of sunshine. All it’s important to do is screw the bulb in!
• eufy RoboVac — “Hey Alexa, Clear the ground!” This command prompts my RoboVac, which traces its approach by means of my condo selecting up the filth that’s tracked in by my wheelchair. It’s a implausible device, and common cleanings enable me to area out the deeper cleanings that require some bodily effort.
• Amazon Hearth TV — Amazon’s lineup of Optima Hearth TVs help handsfree voice management by means of Alexa, making it straightforward to open apps and play content material. Higher but, you may get an enormous 55-inch display for underneath $500.
• Toshiba Microwave or Air Fryer — Pop popcorn, reheat meals and extra with an Alexa-enabled microwave or air fryer from Toshiba. Saying “pop popcorn” or “reheat for five minutes is a lot simpler than urgent buttons!
• Amazon Sensible Thermostat — With this Alexa-enabled thermostat from Amazon, you’ll by no means have to the touch the thermostat once more — merely inform Alexa what to do, and he or she’ll set the temperature based on your instructions.
• Kasa Smartplugs for Older Gadgets — I hold a small fan subsequent to my mattress for airflow, but it surely isn’t Alexa enabled. By utilizing a Kasa Sensible Plug, I’m in a position so as to add Alexa management to the fan that isn’t very sensible, however which I like. Sensible plugs permit you to enhance the performance and prolong the lifetime of gadgets that you simply already, maintaining these older gadgets out of landfills.

There are numerous different Alexa-enabled sensible merchandise for the house, however these are only a few. Making my dwelling “sensible” has made life a lot simpler — once I hop into mattress and say, “Alexa, Goodnight,” my lights and TV are powered off, the thermostat adjusts to a cooler temperature, my bedside fan involves life, and my Echo Dot begins taking part in some soothing sounds that assist me get lost to sleep. After I say, “Alexa, Time for Takeoff,” it is aware of I’m jetting off on one other wheelchair accessible journey, so it shuts all the pieces down to avoid wasting me cash on electrical energy whereas I’m away.

Moveable Wheelchair Ramp

Not all buildings have level-entry doorways, and a conveyable ramp can deliver wheelchair accessibility to locations that it has not existed beforehand.

I wrote a whole article on the Prime 6 Moveable Wheelchair Ramps for Accessible Journey, however listed below are a few my favourite merchandise:

• Ruedamann Wheelchair Ramps — Out there in numerous lengths (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 toes), these ramps are a implausible high-quality choice for offering wheelchair entry. Every ramp folds in half, has a carry deal with, and options non-slip rubber pads to enhance traction in all situations.
• DecPac Wheelchair Ramps — Utilized by public transit companies, railways and different transportation corporations all over the world to supply entry, these ramps are standard as a consequence of their small dimension and portability — folding like an accordion and outfitted with a carrying deal with, they’re a sturdy light-weight answer product of fiberglass.

In the event you or somebody you understand is a wheelchair person who’s planning to journey by air, these notification tags are essential. When touring with a wheelchair, you shouldn’t go away something to likelihood — the 3-pack of important notification tags for wheelchair journey permit you to inform airline baggage handlers what to do together with your wheelchair, even after it has left your sight.

You get three tags:

1. Wheelchair Loading Tag — When wheelchairs are tipped on their sides throughout loading into the airplane cargo compartment, the danger of significant injury will increase. By affixing this vivid purple tag to your wheelchair, you’ll have one final alternative to inform the luggage handlers that your “WHEELCHAIR MUST BE LOADED UPRIGHT” — phrases which can be embroidered in daring lettering on the tag.
2. Return to Plane Door Tag — The place ought to wheelchairs be returned to you? To not baggage declare. Not 10 gates down from yours within the airport terminal. However on the plane door, in fact! Affix this vivid yellow tag, that includes embroidered black lettering that reads “RETURN WHEELCHAIR TO AIRCRAFT DOOR” to remind baggage handlers the place you count on to obtain your wheelchair. They gained’t be capable to say they didn’t get the message.
3. Wheelchair Journey Brand Tag — Help WheelchairTravel.org and accessible journey advocacy efforts with this fashionable key chain and bag tag that includes the WheelchairTravel.org brand. Collectively and together with your help, we are able to open the world to everybody by means of accessible journey.

I don’t fly with out these three tags on my wheelchair and now you’ll be able to them too. You’ll get one in every of every on this specifically priced trio of tags! You should purchase the 3-pack within the Wheelchair Journey Store.

TravelJohn, the transportable toilet for emergencies

It could not all the time be attainable to make use of the airplane toilet, however maintaining a TravelJohn disposable urinal in my bag has saved me from catastrophe quite a few instances.

This leak-proof urinal immediately turns liquids to gel, guaranteeing that you simply gained’t make a large number after you go. It’s actually a lifesaver, and I don’t fly and not using a few tucked in my carry-on. Whereas that is removed from a conventional Christmas reward, it’s a kind of issues each wheelchair person must have — okay, it’s the 2023 model of socks, the important merchandise.

Sizzling Wheels Distant-Management Wheelchair with WCMX Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham Determine

Aaron “Wheels” Fotheringham is an excessive wheelchair athlete who performs tips tailored from skateboarding and BMX. Mattel’s Sizzling Wheels model launched the RC Wheelz Stuntin’ remote-control wheelchair that enables youngsters to recreate the thrilling stunts which have made Fotheringham the Wheelchair Motocross World Champion.

The RC wheelchair is yet one more instance of Mattel’s drive to develop toys consultant of the incapacity group. The toy can attain speeds of as much as 30 miles per hour, far outpacing the aptitude of my very own energy wheelchair! It retails on Amazon for lower than $35, with free transport for Prime members.

Earth Throne, the Journey-Prepared Rest room Riser

Changing an ordinary bathroom with a bigger one is pricey, making a high-quality bathroom seat riser a wise funding for many individuals with disabilities. The Earth Throne is a highly-rated answer that was created to resolve an issue for 90-year-old Dale, as described on this video:

Constructed from EVA closed cell foam, the Earth Throne is each snug and secure. In response to the designers, “Purchasers could sit and the closed cell foam compresses, sealing to most bogs. When standing, the froth releases and Earth Throne is simple to take away, making it transportable and straightforward to scrub.”

The Earth Throne is out there from Amazon.

Want further gift-giving concepts?

Extra gift-giving concepts could be present in my record of must-have accessible journey gear, chock stuffed with merchandise that I take alone accessible journeys and holidays.

You may additionally take into account these suggestions for merchandise to make the house extra wheelchair accessible.

For inspirational t-shirts, hoodies and different gadgets to spark wanderlust, try the Wheelchair Journey Store — your purchases help the essential work of this web site.

Lastly, take into account giving a premium subscription to the Wheelchair Journey E-newsletter as a present — the recipient could have entry to publication articles not revealed anyplace else, and also you’ll help our efforts to make journey extra accessible within the course of!