Great Gifts for the Handicapped

Handicapped people struggle with the daily tasks of life that most people take for granted. Depending upon the disability, simple things such as opening a jar or reaching for something on a high shelf becomes a struggle. This unfortunate situation creates an opportunity for people who have a handicapped person in their lives to show their love by choosing thoughtful gifts that make the person's life easier.

Warming Keyboard and Mouse

• Warmth can alleviate painful disabilities caused by various diseases and physical conditions. For example, people with pain in their hands or wrists who struggle using a computer can find relief with a warming mouse and keyboard. These tools function the same way as a standard mouse and keyboard, but they also emit warmth. This can also benefit people with diseases, such as Reynaud's Disease, that cause extremities to feel cold. The products usually come in ergonomically friendly forms, such as a mouse pad with a wrist rest.

Gel Mats

• Standing on hard, uncarpeted floors often causes pain for people with diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. Gel mats create a stable cushion between feet and the floor, reducing pain. When purchasing a gel mat, look for selections that include mildew protection and non-slip bottoms.

Grabber

• A person with physical limitations often struggles to reach items beyond a small comfort zone. Attempting to grab a can in a cupboard might actually cause him to injure himself. A "grabber," also called a "reacher," makes a thoughtful and practical gift. It allows the user to reach items that are normally unavailable to him without the assistance of another person.

Large Button Items

• People suffering from visual impairment gain increased independence when armed with tools with large buttons that they can see more easily. For instance, telephones with large buttons allow people with limited sight to make calls without needing another person to dial for them. A calculator with large buttons and a large digital display, as well as a television remote control with very large buttons, provide further independence to people who struggle to see well.

Helping Hand Gifts

• Many people with disabilities affecting their hands struggle to perform simple tasks. Gifts that return the ability to do some of these tasks also give the recipients a measure of recovered dignity. For instance, when buttoning shirts or pants becomes difficult, a button pull helps. The person inserts the button pull through the button hole, loops it around the button and pulls it easily back through the hole, buttoning the garment. Many button pulls also have a zipper pull hook on the opposite end to make that task easier, too.

  If you know someone who has lost the ability to grasp a fork or spoon, give her a utensil strap with special grips that wrap around her hand, restoring her ability to feed herself.