Best Holiday Gifts for Amputees in 2023

By Larry Borowsky
5 months Ago

If you’ve perused the November/December edition, you’re already well-versed in this year’s selection of holiday gifts by amputees—i.e., merchandise from companies owned by people with limb difference. Our focus today is on merchandise for the amputee(s) in your life, including yourself.

The list is biased toward goods you might never have heard of, either because they’re new(ish) to the marketplace or because they’re from small, hard-to-find vendors. Of course, it’s always possible the gift you’re looking for already appeared in one of Amplitude‘s shopping guides from a prior year. Those are linked at the bottom of this article, so you can keep browsing if you don’t find the perfect present on this list.

Let’s start with some handmade goods from individual craftspeople:

Offbeat and Original

PROSTHETIC LINER DRYING STAND: This new offering comes from longtime Amplitude reader and BKA Todd Barone, the proprietor of Cedar Furniture Lodge in Pittsburg, Missouri. It’s billed as a rustic, all-natural way to air-dry your socket liners after washing, keeping them lint-free and well proportioned. And when not in use, it’s an attractive accent to your home. Available in single- or double-barreled varieties. $50-$80. Order from Cedar Furniture Lodge.

HAND-KNITTED RESIDUAL LIMB WARMER: No two of these items are alike. They’re all individually woven by Diane Gorsline of Knitsy Bitsy Blankets. You can find offerings for upper-limb/lower-limb amputees, and in above-knee/below-knee varieties. Time it just right and you might find a warmer in the hues of your favorite team; when we logged on, the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, and Green Bay Packers were in stock. Custom orders are available at no cost. $23. Order from Knitsy Bitsy Blankets.

WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE PLANTER: After Great Britain pipped Team USA for the 2021 Paralympic title in wheelchair rugby, a player’s wife asked Daniel Stuart for a custom-made planter to celebrate the win. “I enjoy working with the customer to make something very special and personal,” Stuart writes. “There have been tears.” The bilateral amputee wheelchair athlete planter is now available out of the catalog, or you can work with Stuart to design your own custom figure. $48. Order from Curly Futrets.

AMPUTEE CAKE TOPPER: The connection between baking and limb loss happens to be stronger than most people realize. But even if you can’t tell your fondant from your frosting, you’ve still got a birthday, right? And then there are weddings, anniversaries, house-warmings, retirement parties, Mother’s Day gatherings, graduations, family reunions, grand openings….there’s so much cake to be eaten, this blade-running topper while be worn out by midsummer. It’s laser-cut and comes in more than a dozen colors. $14. Order at Kato Baking Supplies.

Stuff to Read and Watch

AMPLITUDE ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION: Self-promotion alert! By now you’ve heard we’re shifting to a paid-subscription model next year. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to get the early-bird discount and secure your next year’s worth of Amplitude for just $10. To be clear, that’s $10 for six print issues, 50 e-newsletters, our Paralympic coverage, and whatever surprises we decide to spring in 2024. Such a deal. $10. Order on our Subscribe page; the early-bird special ends on December 31.

THE RUNNING GRAVE: A CORMORAN STRIKE NOVEL: As with the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling (writing here as Robert Galbraith) doesn’t cheat her readers. Her seventh novel featuring Britain’s favorite amputee detective runs to 960 pages. But it’s far from a slog; the Guardian calls it “riveting,” and it rocketed to #1 on the NYT’s bestseller list within a couple weeks of its September release. $30 hardback. Order at IndieBound.org.

HUMAN 2.0: A CELEBRATION OF HUMAN BIONICS: Released last May, this book for young readers was written by upper-limb amputee Patrick Kane, who was the world’s youngest bionic-arm recipient (age 13) at the time he acquired his iLimb in 2010. Now a disability rights advocate in the UK, Kane spotlights all kinds of adaptive technology in this book, from prosthetic limbs to cochlear implants, pacemakers, and other devices that empower. $27 hardback. Order at Amazon.

SUE KENT GARDEN NOTES: Part how-to, part record-keeping journal, this unique volume covers every base. An award-winning horticulturist and disability activist, Kent covers everything from seeds and soil health to garden design, sustainable practice, and biodiversity. $25 hardback. Order direct from the publisher, Graffeg.

MORE BOOKS by/about amputees published in 2023: Ashley Shew, Against Technoableism; Scout Bassett, Lucky Girl; Chris Prange-Morgan, Broken Brave and Bittersweet; Kelly Shinn, The Wounds That Bind Us; Sarah Tuberty, The Hand Book.

Stuff to Wear

LINER WAND HOLIDAY COLLECTION: Ugly Christmas sweaters never looked better. They’re available in five colors, and you can order one that matches your specific limb difference. Same thing goes for the t-shirts, sweatshirts, long-sleeve tees, ski caps, and other Liner Wand holiday merch. $18-$30. Order at the Liner Wand’s online shop.

2024 PARALYMPICS COLLECTION: Actually, there’s more than wearables here. You also can get keychains, tote bags, stuffed toys, medallions, pins, replica medals . . . . basically, if you can fit the Parlaympic logo on any given item, they’re selling it here. $8-$60. Order at the Olympic Shop.

SELMA BLAIR/ISAAC MIZRAHI ACCESSIBLE CLOTHING: Released just a few weeks ago, this fashion line came to our attention courtesy of Amplitude contributor Melanie Waldman, who’s been repping the gear on QVC. The apparel combines high style with familiar features such as magnetic closures, stretch fabrics, and wheelchair-friendly cuts. $47-$100. Order at QVC.