HOLIDAY SEASON

Holiday Season

It is getting close to the Holidays and many people look forward to the Joy and Blessings the season brings.  This is the time we look for ward to family and friends opening their hearts and sharing love, warmth, and gifts.  It is a time for good food and traditional holiday recipes.

When shopping for gifts for disabled children and adults, there is so much more time and thought put into it.  We ponder their disability and try to come up with an appreciated gift, one that will not cause harm, and one that can be efficiently used with no frustration.  This is not always an easy task.

I have often wondered when looking at gifts, “what will my child do with it”?  Depending on the severity of the disability, many novel toys can be a hazard.  Will he throw it and hurt someone or break a window?  Will she eat it instead of play with it?  Is it easy to pull apart or is it sturdy?  So, more time and effort has to put into deciding on an appropriate gift for the degree of disability. 

When it comes to clothes and shoes, a problem is that it is not easy getting disabled children and adults to try on clothes in stores.  We often have to guess if it will fit or come up with a way to determine if it comes close.  Sometimes we develop tactics that can work.  I used to put my son’s shoe on my own foot to get the feel of how loose it was on my foot and I would go to the store and do the same to try to get a shoe with a similar feel.  It does not help that 2 same size shoes are often different in size, one way or the other. 

The best way for clothes is to bring them home to try on.  Most of the time we tend to keep the clothing we buy and maybe alter them slightly to make them more comfortable, like putting a dart in the pants or hemming the bottoms. 

Some of the best items for giving are electronics.  Many disabled children and adults are proficient in Computers, Video Gaming, or watching DVDs.  These can be easy gifts if we can pick the right one for their level of functioning. 

I have also wrapped many knick knacks like food items that are fun and festive.  There can be even healthy choices to wrap like fancy granola bars.  Sometimes it’s the thrill of opening something out of curiosity of what’s inside that makes it fun.

The best enjoyment is that many disabled kids and adults love anything you get them and they are so grateful to you for what you gave them.  This is a gift to a parent, friend, or family member.  To have someone so happy for what you gave them at this Happy Holiday Season.

Enjoy !