By Debbie Gillespie

Now that the holiday season is upon us, you might be pondering about buying a gadget or to for someone you know who may be blind or have low vision.  Trouble is, you have no idea what's out there, or where to start looking.   Not to worry, we've compiled a list of some sites you can check out to help you get a handle on buying the perfect item.  There are a few things to keep in mind before plunking down your money and these tips hold true for any shopping site you visit. 

• Beware of shipping costs.  This can be a killer and you can actually spend more on shipping than the gadget was worth. 
• If you are considering a talking gadget, be sure it speaks the language you need. For instance, some items have a French or Spanish option while others do not.
• Metric or imperial measurement, Celsius or Fahrenheit.  As an example, this can be important if you are buying a talking programmable thermostat and live in Canada where Celcius is the norm.
• On screen display.  If the item is for a low vision user this must be taken in to account. Factors such as contrast, brightness and lighting all play a part. Talk to product vendours to gage their experience around the product.
• Universal design.  It doesn't always have to be specially designed to be accessible.  Not all gadgets are high tech and some of the simplest are often the most effective.  This is particularly true for small kitchen utencils such as easy grip tongs, spoons and spatulas, slicing guides and colour contrast cutting boards. 

And now, on with the list. 

CNIB's online web store 

http://webstore.cnib.ca/home.aspx

Many local CNIB offices also have a selection of products onsite if you wish to go check them out first.

While you're there, You can ask for a list of local vendours specializing in assistive technology. 

Vision Aids Canada

www.visionaidcanada.com

this site is currently under revision so if you do not see the product you are looking for be sure to phone and ask.

Outside Canada:

Independent Living Aids

http://www.independentliving.com/

Maxi Aids

http://www.maxiaids.com/store/default.asp

Speak To Me, specializing in products that talk. Many educational items are also found on this site.

http://www.speaktomecatalog.com/

Blind Bargains.  Provides RSS feed of what's out there and what's on sale. Lots of useful information, and their mobile site is good for folks on the go and very accessible using a smart phone or other mobile device.

www.blindbargains.com

AT Guys, Your Assistive Technology Experts

http://www.atguys.com/store/

All things Braille.

World braille day is January 4.  Know a person who reads braille? Check out these sites. 

National Braille press

http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/index.html

Future Aids - The Braille Superstore

http://www.braillebookstore.com/

Seedlings Braille Books for Children

http://www.seedlings.org/order.php

Happy shopping, and happy holidays too!