Santa has been making his list, and checking it twice! I know all too well how difficult it can be to find the perfect gift, especially when the recipient has specific needs, but I love the challenge and the “aha!” moment when I come across the perfect present. I’ve created gift guides before (like this gift guide for beach lovers, and this one for travellers), but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to share what’s made it under the tree for us this year.
Plus, to make it extra-easy for you: this year, I set up an Amazon Storefront for Have Wheelchair Will Travel that has all the gear we love for ourselves and highly recommend for others. It’s a two-for-one gift, in the sense that you get the item you purchase for a loved one and you support this site with a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here’s the Australian storefront, and here’s the U.S. storefront for readers overseas. Thank you for helping us keep Have Wheelchair Will Travel running!
Shower Steamers
If travel isn’t in your loved ones’ plans this holiday season, they can still get the feeling of a luxurious escape with this range of shower steamers from a great Aussie small business. Simply place it on the floor of the shower as you’re getting in, and the warm water will awaken its aroma. So many indulgent pamper gifts are bath-focused (think bubble bath, bath bombs, etc.), so this is the perfect treat for someone who prefers a shower but still wants to make it special. Plus, it comes in a pretty keepsake box!
Get it here: Around The World Shower Steamers from Yarra Naturals
‘Nashie’ stylish swim shirt
Everyone wants to enjoy time in the pool or at the beach in the summer, but not everyone loves the feeling of tight clingy rash shirts or greasy sunscreen. I was delighted to discover the ‘Nashie’ – a light, quick-dry swim shirt that buttons up and offers UPF50+ protection. Nashies are chlorine and salt-water resistant, so they’re suitable for whichever waters you want to enjoy, and the shirt style is suitable for restaurants and cafes if you’re stopping for lunch to re-fuel. They have a huge range of colours and sizes available (S-6XL).
Get it here: Ditch the rashie, get the Nashie
Bobbie the Bear Heat Pack
If you followed along with our Tasmanian adventures this year, you’ll know we had a wonderful time at Bridestowe Lavender Farm – and one of my favourite finds while we were there is this Bobbie the Bear Heat Wheat Pack. This is the perfect gift for anyone with aches and pains, giving them the comfort of a bear with a warm heart and a lovely lavender scent. He’s easy to heat up in the microwave, and can be unzipped to clean for long-term use. If your gift recipient is younger or needs a smaller travel size, there’s also the Baby Bobbie Bear – a super-cute hand-sized alternative.
Get it here: Bobbie the Bridestowe Lavender Heat Pack Bear
FloatSuit
For gift recipients that love the water but need a little extra support to stay afloat, we recommend the FloatSuit from our friends at Beachwheels Australia. It looks like a standard wetsuit, but it has a few special features, including a longer zipper that makes it much easier to put on. The built-in foam around the chest assists with keeping the wearer afloat, making swimming much easier and less tiring for the wearer. We tried the FloatSuit for ourselves on our trip to Western Australia, and we shared all our thoughts in this review.
Get it here: Beachwheels Australia FloatSuit
Echo for Alexa devices
As the person in our family who always has the answer for everything (ha!), it’s a relief sometimes to have some back-up. If your gift recipient could benefit from a voice-activated assistant to answer questions and keep everything on track, you should get them an Alexa-enabled device from Amazon. Alexa can help with just about anything, from “remind me to take my medication at 6pm” to “what’s the weather like in Sydney tomorrow?” to “play Christmas carols”. There’s a huge range of options available, from the budget-friendly Echo Dot that’s perfect for large living rooms or open-plan spaces, to the Echo Show with a display screen in addition to the audio (so you can ask it to “show me who’s at the front door?” or use it to make a video call with a friend while your hands are busy).
Get it here: Echo for Alexa
Little People School Bus
This is my new favourite Fisher-Price toy. Not only does it have 40+ songs and phrases to introduce key concepts (like alphabet, counting, shapes, etc.), and discovery buttons to encourage the wonder of play (and foster fine and gross motor skills), one of the “people” is a wheelchair user! I love any opportunity to encourage kids to engage with people who live with disabilities and learn inclusion, and this toy is perfect for that. Oh, and it reinforces the importance of accessibility on public transport, of course.
Get it here: Fisher Price Little People Learning Toy
Portable Table Tennis Table
Braeden got an Anko Portable Table Tennis Table for his birthday, and he loves it. It’s smaller than a usual tennis table, so it doesn’t take up as much space, and it’s great to take to picnics and other gatherings.
Get it here: Anko portable table tennis table (Kmart Australia), or a similar version Portable Ping Pong table (Amazon U.S.)
Pop-up games
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love any game that makes working on fine motor skills fun, and it’s a bonus when it features a character or theme that intrigues the gift recipient. Pop up games like this one from Kmart Australia – featuring Disney’s Lilo and Stitch – are easy to set up and figure out, but exciting enough to keep the whole family entertained. Each player takes a turn sliding surf boards into slots, and when the ‘right’ one slots in, Stitch pops out.
Get it here: there are a huge range of similar pop-up games available with different themes and characters, like this Super Mario version or this Bluey one (both from Amazon US)
Pet talking buttons
Have you seen the viral videos of pets “talking” to their humans using buttons? Most people just think it’s cute, but of course, anyone who loves or cares for a person who is non-verbal sees possibilities. The popularity of these viral videos has made buttons cheaper and more widely available, and they’re much cheaper than the assistive technology ‘officially’ designed for people with disabilities. They’re a very flexible option and there are so many ways you can use them – record messages for communication, and take them with you wherever you go.
Get it here: 10 Color Voice Recording Buttons (Amazon US)
Remote control car
This Monster Jam Megalodon Storm Remote Control Car is invincible – Braeden has proved it! I’m not sure who loves it more, him or his support workers. It gets so much attention when Braeden takes it out, and people of all ages want to give it a go. It’s a great conversation starter for engaging new friends at the park, at the beach, or anywhere else you take it.
Get it here: Monster Jam Megalodon Storm Remote Control Car (Kmart Australia) or via Amazon
Sticky golf set
This is another gift that Braeden got for his birthday and he loves it – I’m sure others will too! It’s a great option to take along on days out and about, and it also keeps everyone entertained in the backyard at home.
Get it here: Kmart Australia sticky golf set is the version that Braeden got, and a similar one is also available on Amazon
Basketball hoop
In case you haven’t noticed the trend here: I love recommending gifts that have been well and truly tried-and-tested by Braeden. Here’s another one: a basketball hoop he got for his birthday earlier this year. He really loves taking it out and about, and is guaranteed a lot of positive feedback whenever he gets a goal. It’s lightweight enough to pop in the back of a car, and it can be used on the back of a chair for ease of access – perfect for smaller children, wheelchair users, and others who want to indulge their inner Michael Jordan.
Get it here: Braeden has this LED basketball hoop from Kmart Australia, and you can also get them on Amazon
Colouring pens
Amelia is also a great gift-tester, and she gives these colouring pens her seal of approval. She received a box of these ones for her birthday, and she loves them – they’re good quality at a great price. Colouring is a wonderfully versatile and engaging activity for all ages and abilities, and it’s all the rage at the moment, so a set of good colouring pens makes a great gift.
Get it here: Amelia got this 168 pack from Kmart Australia, but they also offer larger 300 packs, and there are lots of different sizes and types available on Amazon
Wheely Good Adventures colouring book
Of course, if you’re going to get a gift of colouring pens, you should get a great colouring book to go with them! Check out our very own Wheely Good Adventures – a colouring book that helps kids learn about what it’s like to travel on wheels through Braeden and Amelia’s adventures. We originally created this book as a gift for the kids that Braeden visits at preschools around Sydney, but we’re thrilled to see so many other kids – and kids at heart! – enjoying it too.
Get it here: Wheely Good Adventures (Australian version) or Wheely Good Adventures (U.S. version)
Travel Without Limits gift subscription
And, of course, the absolutely perfect gift for anyone who wants a hearty dose of travel inspiration – with all the detailed information about access they need to make it happen for themselves – is a gift subscription to Travel Without Limits. We’ve made it super-easy to buy online (just one form here and check the box for gift) and it will go straight to their mailbox. It’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long!
