Who’s already finished with their holiday shopping? No worries, us either! The year has gone by so fast and we’re already in December, the gift-giving season. But let’s not panic. If you haven’t finished or even started your holiday shopping, we have something special for you!
We’ve spent hours compiling a carefully created list of creative gift ideas in eight categories for people with disabilities or to benefit people with disabilities. Check out our special disAbility Holiday Gift Guide to find a “perfect” gift for someone extraordinary!
ABLE Gift
Contributing to someone’s ABLE TN savings account is a great gift this holiday season. Giving financial gifts can be a meaningful way to share your wealth and make a difference in the lives of your loved ones with a disability.
ABLE TN is a savings program designed to help Tennessee residents with physical and/or mental disabilities put aside money to pay for qualified disability expenses. These accounts provide an opportunity to save and invest with tax-free earnings to help participants maintain independence and quality of life.
Anyone can contribute to an individual’s ABLE TN account, as long as total contributions do not exceed the annual contribution limit. Account owners, family, and friends may contribute a total of $17,000 each year. The Account Owner can make contributions above the annual contribution limit if they certify that they qualify for the increased contribution limit under the ABLE to Work Act. Contributions to an account are treated as a completed gift to the designated beneficiary for federal tax purposes.
Contributions into an individual’s ABLE TN account can be made by:
- Check – Check should be made payable to ABLE TN. please include the able account owner’s name and account number.
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
- Automatic Investment Plans -An Automatic Investment Plan gives the account owner and contributors the flexibility to set up recurring contributions from a checking or savings account. Contributors will have the ability to determine the amount and frequency at which they wish to contribute on a recurring basis.
- Payroll Deduction
- Rollover from another ABLE plan or 529 College Savings Plan
- Inviting friends and family to give through UGift
For more information visit ABLETN’s website.
ART
Just like how every person in the world is unique, so is every piece of art. When you give the gift of art, it shows you’ve considered the person you’ve bought it for. Buying art requires thought of a person, their space, their attributes, and their style. It can be such a thoughtful gift.
Here are a few art ideas when thinking of the perfect gift.
Healing Arts Project, Inc. (HAPI) provides artistic opportunities for persons in mental health and addiction recovery to promote healing, community awareness and inclusion. Works by the artists can be found in their store on their website.
Borderless Art Tennessee is an organization that support art for individuals with disabilities.
CARDS
Cards are always a perfect way to send your sentiments during the holidays. Create a holiday list of names and addresses of friends and family and send out those cards soon so they can make it before the holidays.
We found a few special cards you can send this season.
MIFA Holiday Cards
Honor friends, family, and colleagues with a seasonal gift that will have year-round impact. Your gift supports MIFA’s programs serving Memphis and Shelby County, including Meals on Wheels, housing for homeless families, and financial assistance for families in crisis. For a minimum donation of $10 per card, send MIFA (Metropolitian Inter-Faith Association) a list of those you wish to honor, and we’ll take care of the rest. Their volunteers will handwrite your name, address each card, and mail them for you. Complete the Holiday Cards order form and send your special card today.
AbleVoices Photo Cards & Prints/Gifts
AbleVoices is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides photography programs for youth and adults with disabilities as a means for self-expression, empowerment, and advocacy. The ultimate goal of an AbleVoices project is to provide the tools and training for individuals to create pictures that communicate their interests, strengths, and goals for the future as well as foster the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in their communities. The culminating experience of an AbleVoices project is to display participant photographs with captions in a gallery so family, friends, and the public can learn about and celebrate the photographers. Find these items at https://www.ablevoices.org/main-store
Tennessee State Parks Gift Card
With all the advancement in accessibility at the Tennessee State Parks, give the gift of outdoor adventure with a Tennessee State Park gift card. Convenient and easy to use, gift cards are the natural choice for people on the go.
PURCHASE A CARD
Tennessee State Parks Gift Cards may be purchased at all Tennessee State Parks. Additionally, the gift card can be purchased at various Kroger and Target locations throughout the state. They are also available at GiftCardMall.com. Tennessee State Parks Gift Cards are available in amounts up to $500 per card.
Cards ordered online through Tennessee State Parks are sent to you via USPS for intended arrival within five to ten business days. There is a $3 shipping fee per order to the same address, with up to 10 cards per online order.
Cards may be purchased in person at the Tennessee State Parks central office located at 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave. in the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, Nashville, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT.
USE A CARD
The cards are redeemable for lodging at campgrounds, cabins, and lodges; golfing; restaurants; marinas; in-park gift shop items, and vacation tours. The state park system features campgrounds, gift shops, cabins, golf courses, lodges, marinas, and restaurants.
*Please Note: Gift cards are not redeemable in the online gift shop.
Tennessee State Parks Gift Cards are transferrable and do not expire, but they may not be redeemed for cash. Lost or stolen gift cards cannot be replaced. Gift cards may not be accepted at all park’s concessions. Inquire at the park office or resort park lodge front desk for current information.
You can check your gift card balance online at valutec.net at any time.
Goods & Products
Giving items that are made by people with disabilities means choosing a product that is made by an individual with a disability and the store is run largely through their own efforts.
Check out these items that will make great gifts this holiday season and support the creators of the items.
BrightStone Products
BrightStone’s mission is “To provide a comprehensive work, social support, and residential community for adults with special needs, expanding their potential and helping them develop mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.”
All of BrightStone’s products are created by their students. Their packaged food mixes make yummy gifts to give and are available at several Tennessee retailers.
Find out more about Brightstone’s products here.
Friendmade Goods
Friends Life Community is an organization that provides opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to grow personally, develop socially, and be active members of the community. Their line of Friendmade Goods feature the work of adults with disabilities who participate in their immersive Weekday Program. Their goods include original art, home goods, accessories, apparel, and FLC merchandise.
Practicing self-expression and exploring creative and business skills, the Friends make, package, and sell original works and wares throughout the Nashville community and beyond. Find these products at https://www.friendmadegoods.org.
Holiday Boxes
Each year volunteers gather and distribute Holiday boxes for families whose resources and family supports are severely limited. United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee volunteers pack these boxes with essentials such as staple, nonperishable food items, warm clothing, bath and bedding items. They also include Holiday and New Year’s messages, cards and drawings from children, and many other small gifts. All the items in the Holiday Boxes are new items, purchased or handmade by volunteers especially for the families they are helping through the program.
If you live in Middle Tennessee and need a holiday box filled with cheer, or know of someone in need, contact United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee at (615) 242-4091.
SELF-CARE
The best gifts provide some sense of self-care and pampering. The holidays can quickly go from a time of relaxation and connecting with loved ones to a stressful few months. Creating sustainable and realistic self-care practices can empower you to show up as your best self for the holidays.
Check out these self-care gifts to get your holiday shopping done.
Thistle Farms has handmade soap, candles, body & spa products that are perfect for your gift of self-care, and the sale of their products is dedicated to helping women survivors recover and heal from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction.
What better way shop than to shop for a purpose.
Whichever gifts you decide to give, the best gifts are those given from the heart. Happy holiday shopping!