Gift ideas and useful websites

By Unique’s Family Support Officer, Marion Mitchell.

For those of you (like me) who find it hard to buy gifts for your chromosome/gene cutie, I have created this to help us all find suitable gifts (whether for Christmas, birthday or other event). It’s a list of books, toys, websites, clothing and other items that we’ve heard about or people have said their children like and we’re sharing in case other families would find them useful too. Let me know if you would like to add any suggestions (email marion@rarechromo.org).

Please note: Unique is in no way endorsing the companies listed or any of the products, this is just a list collated from suggestions made by Unique members. Parents should thoroughly check out products for safety before purchasing them.

Books

• Book Trust  https://bit.ly/2B9uhVU  Based in the UK
• letterboxlibrary.com/acatalog/index.htmlBased in the UK
• offwego.ie/Based in the Republic of Ireland. A book series, titled ‘Off we Go!‘ has been launched to prepare children aged 3-7 and those with learning disabilities for particular events by explaining ‘what comes next’ on an outing.  There are six books covering Going to the Dentist, Going to the Doctor, Going to the Restaurant, Going to the Supermarket, Going to the Hairdresser and Going Swimming.
• Feeling Happy, Feeling Safe kidscape.org.uk/Acolour picture book for children under 6 (could be suitable for older children with learning disabilities) – stories about getting lost, saying no, strangers, bullying and more. Available from: Kidscape Helpline: 08451 205 204 . Based in the UK
• Personalised children’s books https://kck.st/2QHrDAf
• The Treehouse at Number 9 books and a musical story App.

https://treehousegenies.com/about-treehouse/

Toys

• TFH  specialneedstoys.com/ukBased in the UK
• Total Sensory totalsensory.co.ukBased in the UK
• Sensory Plus sensoryplus.co.ukBased in the UK
• Jabadao jabadao.orgBased in the UK
• Rompa rompa.comBased in the UK
• Spacekraft  spacekraft.co.ukBased in the UK
• Sensory Toy Warehouse sensorytoywarehouse.com/Lots of affordable sensory toys and items from pocket money upwards, for all age groups and abilities. Based in the UK
• Explore your senses exploreyoursenses.co.uk/sensoryforhome/sensory-garden.html
• Fledglings  fledglings.org.ukTel: 0845 458 1124  Email: enquiries@fledglings.org.uk Fledglings understand that life with a disabled child can be challenging, and help by providing practical, affordable, good quality products that address every-day problems faced by children with disabilities such as chromosome disorders. Sensory toys and more. Based in the UK
• Sensory direct  sensorydirect.comdesign and manufacture weighted blankets and other weighted therapy products, which help those with Sensory Integration Disorder.
• Implay implay.co.ukTel: 0800 6125499 Implay is the UK’s leading Manufacturer of Soft Play Equipment, Crash Mats, etc.
• Micro Scooters micro-scooters.co.ukTel: 0333 3201030 Scooters for all ages.Based in the UK
• Toyella  toyella.com/is a lovely website. Unusual gifts you cant buy elsewhere in the UK
• Mastermind toys mastermindtoys.com/ Based in Canada.
• Toys & Games for Developmental Delay fatbraintoys.com/search.cfm?q=developmental+delay. Based in the USA.
• https://justlikeyoudolls.com/dolls with cochlear implants, etc US based

Online shops for switch adapted toys

• Inclusive Technology  inclusive.co.uk/hardware/switch-adapted-toys
• Liberator liberator.co.uk/products/learning-and-inclusion-aids/switch-adapted-toys

Other items/useful websites

• Living made easy livingmadeeasy.org.uk/children/play-%26-leisure-31470845 1309177 The play and leisure section includes various outdoor/indoor toys and equipment for children and young people with disabilities. This includes cycles, equipment for swimming, puzzles, sensory toys and equipment and play equipment for both indoor and outdoor use. Based in the UK
• Lay-Z-Spa Inflatable Hot Tubs lay-z-spa.co.ukTel: 0800 6120457 Portable hot tubs. Based in the UK
• Unique tote bag £2.99 including p&p in the UK. To order yours, go to rarechromo.org/html/DonateWP.aspselect Buying Merchandise and tell us in the box how many bags you would like to order. Then complete your payment and we’ll send them out to you. If you’re outside the UK, please email craig@rarechromo.org for costs including shipping.
• Dream pad integratedlistening.com/products/dreampad/Dreampad™ and Dreampad Mini™ The Dreampad™ and Dreampad Mini™delivers music through gentle, calming vibratio. Based in the USA.
• Lights infinitylights.comBased in the USA
• LED writing board http://www.kootchyproducts.co.uk/
• multi-sensoryworld.co.uk
• There is a facebook group devoted to Christmas presents for children with special needs: A Very SPECIAL NEEDS Christmas  facebook.com/groups/193089027492954/

Special needs clothing

• TubieeGo https://tubieego.com/
• Tubie Kids https://tubiekids.co.uk/
• Brothers & Sisters (brothersandsisterslondon.com/shop) Based in the UK
• Incy Wincy incywincy.netTel: 0844 8754645 Sell specialist swimwear and buoyancy aids for children with special needs. Based in the UK

Other suggestions

• Homemade art work
• Ipad/Iphone, tablet you can buy gift vouchers for apps in many UK shops.
• Portable DVD player
• Musical teddies, like tad the frog, etc
• Bathtub lights on eBay. They float and are color changing! And a few fish you wind up that ‘swim’.
• Colour changing shower head, available from Amazon/ebay
• Bubble tube, available from ebay/amazon, or B&M stores and Argos (UK)
• Torrid starcloths from eBay £60.00

Unique also has a couple of practical guides on the website with regard to larger items like bikes, trikes and outdoor toys. Click Here to read them.