Everyone loves getting a present, and as such, it can be hard to know what to get people. If you’re searching for the perfect gift for a blind person, the best thing to do would be to research their hobbies and interests. This ensures that you’re buying something they’re going to love and use.
Of course, there are also gifts you can find that can assist a visually-impaired person throughout their daily life. In this list, we’ve included both fun, classic gifts as well as useful, practical items for someone who is blind. Remember, blind people like to play games, cook food, and be like any other person who can see.
What Type of Games & Puzzles Would Be Good Gifts for Blind People?
There are many games, toys, and puzzles that have been made accessible and can be gifted to a blind friend or family member. They can use braille letter tiles to play Scrabble or Boggle and board games can be played with tactile pieces instead of tokens or cards.
Games for the Blind
Some games they might enjoy include:
Dominos
A set of dominos is a classic gift. These dominos have raised dots so that visually-impaired people can identify them easily. Perfect for the whole family!
Tactile Chess
BUY ON AMAZONThere are accessible versions of both chess and checkers as well. These are classic board games that everyone will enjoy.
Braille Playing Cards
A standard deck of 52 cards accessible to anyone with a visual impairment. These cards are a cut above, made of durable plastic and completely waterproof. Guaranteed to stay sharp and sturdy and includes a snap-shut plastic storage container.
Tactile Coloring Book
You can even gift a tactile coloring book to someone who is blind. Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore. In fact, it’s been proven that coloring can reduce stress.
Braille Children’s Books
Perfect for children! If your blind friend has a child or grandchild, definitely consider braille children’s books. That way, they can enjoy the classic gift of storytelling. Here are some good ones:
DK Braille: Animals
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Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille
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DK Braille: It Can’t Be True: Incredible Tactile Comparisons
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Puzzles for the Blind
Similarly, some puzzles have also been adapted for people with visual impairments. Puzzle games make great gifts for blind people. Here are some good options:
Speed Cube
BUY ON AMAZONThis is a 3x3x3 cube designed especially for the blind. It includes Braille so players can read it quickly and accurately. Perfect for reducing stress, exercising the brain, improving memory and practicing hands-on dexterity skills. Suitable for beginners and experienced players alike.
Sudoku
You could also try a Braille version of Sudoku. This one includes color-coded pieces with Braille marking which is good for the blind as well as people with low vision. This popular game is sure to challenge and lead to hours of fun!
Braille Scrabble Tiles
Here’s a great idea! Gift your visually-impaired friend braille scrabble tiles. This is a full set of wooden scrabble tiles that makes the game accessible for the blind and those with visual impairments.
Practical and Useful Gifts for Blind People
If you are looking for more practical and useful gifts for blind people, the following are some suggestions that are available on Amazon. These are all great gifts that can help blind people get through their day.
Voice-Controlled Home Assistant
BUY ON AMAZONA voice-controlled home assistant like the Amazon Echo Dot makes it easier for a visually-impaired person to navigate their home. With such a device, a blind person can voice control their entertainment by streaming songs, audiobooks, podcasts, and more throughout their home. They can also ask Alexa to tell a joke, play music, answer questions, play the news, check the weather, set alarms, and more.
Speaking Alarm Clock
BUY ON AMAZONA speaking clock is another useful gift for the blind. An alarm clock that talks can offer assistance with time awareness. Includes the options of 24 hours or 7am-9pm chimes that loudly report the time at the beginning of each hour.
Accessible Speaking Watch
BUY ON AMAZONIn addition, you can get them a talking wrist watch. Gifts like a talking watch are great for blind people who want to go on an adventure outside the house while still keeping track of time. This one has an adjustable band, either stainless steel or a stretch band for smaller wrists. Four buttons for easy operation: Time, Date, Alarm, and Setting Time buttons.
Handheld Braille Labeler
BUY ON AMAZONThis has all sorts of uses for someone who is visually impaired. They can label objects throughout their home in order to help them either navigate or remember which items are where.
This labeler is versatile, convenient, light-weight. It can produce both Braille letters and numbers.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Gift Ideas for Blind People
Blind people are not any different from sighted people. They enjoy playing games, reading, cooking, and even traveling. The only difference is that we need to be more creative with gift-giving. Some people might think that it is hard to find gifts for blind people. However, that isn’t the case; there are plenty of games, gadgets, and other gifts that take blind people into consideration. Some may not think of these items if they’re not blind themselves, but these gifts can be fun and also help a person navigate their world.