The D*List's gift guide for your crip friends

Here are some accessible things we've bought or have been given that we'll pass on to our disabled friends - you might even buy something yourself or send the list to Santa this year 😉

Noise Cancelling Headphones - $21.99

“As a neurodivergent person, Christmas and New Years can be very loud and overstimulating. One of the best gifts I’ve received has been a pair of noise cancelling headphones that I could wear to any gathering or event. They allow me to be present and engage without feeling overwhelmed. You can get some really good noise cancelling headphones from Dick Smith, and if they are small enough to fit under a sensory hoodie, even better!” - Beth Awatere, project coordinator

Move It Dolly - $21.63

“Living in a flat in Tāmaki Makaurau, I often have a lot of condensation build up on my windows on cold winter mornings. So I bought myself a cheap but well-reviewed dehumidifier at Kmart and it works a treat at drying up my bedroom. However, it is quite heavy and difficult for me to move around as a wheelchair-user. So I bought myself this dolly from Bunnings - not a toy dolly but a wooden platform on wheels. My dehumidifier sits on top and it’s way easier to move around and then empty when the water tank is full. It can take a load of up to 200 kilograms so I can use it to move other heavy around other things too.” - Olivia Shivas, editor

Gravity Salt & Pepper Grinder - $53.19

“As I get older, I am noticing a correlation between my age and my interest in buying more coarse (read: bougie) salt and pepper. But using a salt and pepper grinder is not the most accessible of kitchen tools as you often need to use two hands, a strong grip and a twist motion. In one of my old flats, my flatmate had a salt and pepper automatic grinder that used gravity - when you turn it upside down it automatically grinds. These are one-handed and there is no need to push and hold a button like other automatic grinders out there. They also have a LED light to help with visibility and you can adjust coarseness to your taste. You can buy these from Dick Smith or you can buy 2 for 1 at a cheaper price via Temu. They are something I cannot live without and think every kitchen, regardless of needs, should have. Now, you can have your gourmet pink salt, pepper and any other seasoning in a super accessible gadget; and who doesn’t want a well-seasoned meal leading into the holiday season.” - Pelenakeke Brown, programme director

Zip-up Raised Greenhouse - $49

“Living in a rural whānau Māori homestead, I have such aroha for the whenua which sustains our māra kai. But, let me tell you, as a wheelchair user, navigating the rough terrain of our upper gardens isn’t so easy — especially when Tāwhirimātea decides it’s his time to dance. After one too many mokopuna eye-rolls when asking them to fetch things in the rain from our māra kai, we hacked together an accessible (for me) raised garden bed to sit outside our kitchen. It’s been handy for when we need some herbs or greens for kai, without the hassle of the trek up top, or the cost of going into town. An added benefit has been to connect with both papatūanuku and my mokopuna — allowing us to get our green thumbs on without getting too hōhā at each other!

On sale at Crackerjack, we found this dual zip, drop over greenhouse cover for $29 (originally $49) and this galvanised steel garden bed for $49 (originally $65). Although it is designed to lay on ground soil, my pāpā built a wooden stand from scrap wood to lift the garden bed up to the perfect height for my wheelchair and lined the bottom with a garden liner. The zip cover is great as it protects from the elements but still allows you to access things from either side. Don’t have awhi on hand or the funds? Kei te pai! Just work with what you already have and let the rest inspire your shopping choices on the additional items, drawing from your personal needs and budget.” - Tania Bissett, kaiārahi hapori (community lead)

Smart Plug - $21.55

"Smart plugs are my new obsession - and a great crip hack. They’re essentially power outlets that are switched on and off with your phone, making reaching (or not reaching) fiddly powerpoints a thing of the past. Best of all, the use-cases are endless! Want to turn off your heater or electric blanket in winter but can’t get out of bed to flick the switch? Use your smart plug! Want to turn your Christmas lights on automatically at 7pm, and off at 10pm? Smart plug has your back. Kids having too much screen time over summer? Get your wifi on a smart plug and with just a quick word to Siri, off goes the internet! Genius." - Red Nicholson, executive director