15 Awesome Gifts for Kids with Disabilities: Fun and Practical

I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned, at no extra cost to you. I only support what I know and love!

I know that lit is rough to buy gifts for many people to begin with, but what are the best gifts for kids with disabilities? for a child with disabilities? Some kids aren’t so difficult but what if the child has developmental delays or you aren’t sure what age they are, developmentally? what do you do then? I have tried to round up gifts that are for age ranges or are more to help the parents, in some instances. It is up to you at that point, but I have tried to make it easier on you. I hope that I have succeeded. 

Just a quick side note. YES. I do get a small commission for items sold if. you use my links and throughout my blog, I stick to only recommending what I know from my years as an RN or from my experience as a parent of a disabled kiddo, but for this post, I did reach out to parents, physicians, and physical therapists to get an idea of current products that they just can’t live without so that I can be sure to be up-to-date. 

I trust the people that I reached out to and some things are from my own experiences, professionally and personally. As always, I ask people to reach out to me if they have any problems, comments, or their own recommendations so I can serve you in the best way possible. 

PLEASE use my links so that I can keep bringing you the awesome content that you ask for. THANK YOU!!

A scooter board is commonly used in physical and occupational therapy, as it helps to build core strength and gross motor skills and – as long as it is okay with the child’s therapist(s) – it can be used for therapy at home too!

Scooter boards are a great addition to the arsenal for children seeking sensory input, and for kids on the opposite end, they can help with sensory integration skills for kids who are sensitive to movement, especially kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Best Gifts For Kids With Disabilities – How To Help Parents And Kids

Heavy Duty Indoor Scooter Board

A scooter board is commonly used in physical and occupational therapy, as it helps to build core strength and gross motor skills and – as long as it is okay with the child’s therapist(s) – it can be used for therapy at home too!

Scooter boards are a great addition to the arsenal for children seeking sensory input, and for kids on the opposite end, they can help with sensory integration skills for kids who are sensitive to movement, especially kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Note that the board is designed to allow a child to either sit and hold the handles or lied on their belly. 

Stay-N-Play Children’s Balance Ball

Balance balls are great for practicing balance and motor skills! The great thing about one with legs is that they can also be used as a desk chair which adds additional time in which a child can do the physical and occupational therapy that they are required to do. 

When my child was recovering from heel cord extension surgery, it was difficult trying to squeeze in the amount of time they were recommending be spent on the ball. I wish they would have had the one with legs back then because it definitely would have made things easier for the rest of us!

Wheelchair Side Pouch

You have no idea how much these come in handy! While my child was recovering from surgery and had 3 months of recovery in a wheelchair, I can’t count how many times my phone dropped onto the floor after slipping through the seat, until I decided that enough was enough! 

The only other option is to carry a backpack with all of your stuff, including your purse because it is too hard to push the wheelchair while holding onto a purse, water bottle, and phone, I guarantee it. The cool thing is that you can put one on each side or even one inside for the child of the hour and another one on the outside for the parent of the day, LOL. 

I cannot say enough good things about what may seem like such a trivial thing to some, but it really does make a d difference in the scheme of things in what are usually pretty long days, to begin with. Rewarding – but tough. 

Long-Handled Shoe Horn

The shoe horn is one thing that was invaluable when my child had surgery and the cool thing about it is if it isn’t needed for long it can be used by others in the household or even given to grandma and grandpa! You wouldn’t believe how helpful such a simple tool can be – and how much you can end up depending on it!

This particular version has a larger handle that is easy to grip, which can be adjusted to different lengths, and is broken down for transport – now that’s handy!

It comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Liquid Motion Bubble Timer

I mentioned these before in “Quit Guessing Gift Guide: Gifts for kids with OCD, ASD, ADHD, and Anxiety, but they deserve a mention here too because they are just a great gift and they can do loads to help parents regain their sanity. 

These are great to play with and look at, but they are also timers, which come in handy when it comes to “time outs” but do double duty for kids who deal with and anxiety: OCD, ASD, ADHD, and anxiety – the child ends up calming down while they watch the slow drops and the bubbles, in addition to knowing how long they have while they watch.

Teachers frequently use them in the classroom. 

Each one is small enough to fit in pockets, backpacks, diaper bags, purses, or totes so you never have to be without, as they make great fidget toys for “sensory” children too!

The nice thing about this gift is even though they are a therapy tool, kids of all ages and abilities love them!

Best Gifts for Kids With Disabilities: Kids With Sensory Issues

Sensory Sock

Even after spending years in nursing and as a parent of a disabled child, I had no idea that something called a “sensory sock” even existed! I can see why they are much-loved by parents though. Kids with sensory processing disorders tend to get overwhelmed by all of the sights, voices, other sounds, textures, and tastes they are experiencing, plus those surrounding them. 

The sensory sock allows those kids to “bring it all in” and basically put themselves into a “box” of sorts – one that doesn’t have any sharp edges or rough (annoying) textures that would only escalate things. Occupational therapists recommend them as a way to help parents teach their child self-soothing skills.

Sensory Calming Pressure Vest

These are a little bit different from the vest that I mentioned in Gifts For Kids With Sensory Issues. The other one adds weight, which is a comfort to many kids of all ages. The one here doesn’t have pockets for weights because it is meant to be able to stretch in order to supply pressure to give a better “hug” to those who need it. 

Which is better you ask? To answer that, you are better off asking the parent(s) or caregiver because it really depends on what the child prefers or which one would be best at calming each particular child Some children find pressure more soothing than weight and vice versa..  

I will add that there is the fact that the little square weights that go into the pocket on the vest can do double duty as “bean bags” for the timeless “bean bag toss”. That is the thought that entered my head anyway. (Yes, I just aged myself with that one)! That’s the best I can do at answering that one, sorry. I hope it at least helps.

Lakikid Sensory Weighted Neck Pillow For Kids

A weighted neck pillow has been claimed. wrap around the neck just perfectly to help relieve fidgeting, a serious case of the wiggles, or other sensory issues (I hate that they call them issues, BTW). If a child has one of these cute puppies, they have the ability to sit for a longer period!

The one thing that made me choose this pillow over others was that was developed and is made by a family with neurodiverse children. Their business model is: “We empower kids to have a life full of possibilities by providing support, education, and products that help them with anxiety, sleep, attention span, and sensory issues.”

They also donate 1% of every sale to KultureCity’s. sensory initiative program and comes with a carry bag for taking it on the go

Aokitek Sensory Swing

How did you feel the last time that you sat in a hammock or porch swing? I know that I love to wrap up in a comforter or blanket to read and just get lost in what I’m reading because I’m totally relaxed and there is an overlapping sense of security. 

While kids are wrapped up in the swing they become aware of their bodies and develop balance and spatial skills as they are changing positions. Even if a child doesn’t have special needs, there are sensory needs that a swing can address. It is a plus that all kids benefit from the swing but I’m betting they will enjoy it so much, you’ll be the favorite for quite a while! 

Grant, there is no need to be disabled in order to get something out of this gift – they were originally made for kids with autism (ASD), Asperger’s syndrome, anxiety, and ADHD. I’m telling you now, every kid in the household will be excited and thank you for such an awesome present! For more information on ADHD – How to Cope With ADHD – making it your superpower.

The swing comes with all of the required hardware to get it hung up in any room in the house in a jiffy, just in case you were wondering.

Special Supplies Inflatable Compression Boat Lounger

Again, this is a gift for kids of all abilities and a wide age range. For those with special needs, the compression boat offers a type of “hug” for kids with ASD, etc., who need sensory compression, in addition to rocking back-and-forth. You just know you’d get bonus points for buying the kiddos a boat, right?!

The boat includes an air pump to get it blown up to perfection.

“I’m So Glad You Were Born: Celebrating Who You Are” 

“Parents and children both have big dreams – about their lives and the wonders the future holds. This book celebrates those dreams, along with the wonder of everyday experiences like sweet and special snuggles and cuddles, fun times, and learning times too. 

LIGHTIMETUNNEL Sleep Headphones With Stereo Speakers

What a great gift to give to kidsters that have a difficult time sleeping, which many special needs kids do! No matter what, you will be the talk of the town for buying this one for any tween or teenager! I’m pretty certain you won’t get “the sigh” anyway, although you never know when they are “that” age.  

These would be great for traveling – even if its just on the bus ride home after school. The headphones are built into the band and have a cushion over them so side sleepers will have no problems. They use wireless Bluetooth to connect to a phone and boast about 10 hours of playing time. 

I personally use Bluetooth headphones all of the time and used to have a pair of these, which I wore right out! They were great as a headband to hold back hair when not in use, but they worked well as I was doing chores around the house.

Drool Bandana Bibs

I’m going to include 2 different types of bibs because I was asked to make sure that I do, as they have different functions and coverage. 

These bandana bibs are good for pre-teens through all stages of adulthood and are great at catching any drool that escapes throughout the day. Keep in mind that parents/caregivers tend to go through a lot of these every day so more than one pack would be a happy occasion for all. 

Silicone Adult Bibs

Above are the silicone bibs with a crumb catcher. These are great when a special needs child is growing up and for adults. They have an adjustable collar and are quick and easy to clean (so is the floor, which has much less food on it) when meals have ended. If you are looking for a gift that is practical, then this is it. 

Special Supplies Adaptive Utensils (4-Piece Kitchen Set) Weighted

If you’re looking for a set of supportive kitchen utensils, look no further than Special Supplies Adaptive Utensils. These utensils are wider with a weighted design to provide extra support for those with hand tremors, Parkinson’s, or arthritis. The soft-grip material is also comfortable to hold, making them perfect for everyday use.

Were You Looking For Something Else?

If you were looking for something different, check out Gifts for Kids With Sensory Issues – So You Can Quit Guessing. If you are planning to donate this year, I ask that you donate to a local domestic violence shelter, because domestic violence increases during the holidays and there are less volunteers because people are busy. As a survivor of domestic violence, this is a topic close to my heart. I have a gift guide here: 21 Incredibly Helpful Gifts for Domestic Violence Shelters. and the Survivors Within Them. If you would like more information on why it increases during the holidays, there is: Why Domestic Violence Increases During the Holidays – and What We Can Do About It. 

#StoryofLori