Gift Giving and the Unique World of the Special Needs Child

Holiday Gifts for Teachers and Therapists

Like many parents of Special Needs children, you probably say “thank you” to your child’s teachers and therapists throughout the year. Do you also have to say “thank you” to a professional with a Holiday gift? What about budget? You can give personal and meaningful gifts that don’t stress your Holiday budget by staying focused on the reason for the gift.

Why Give Holiday Gifts to Teachers and Therapists?

For many, the parent-professional relationship becomes personal when the job involves their child. Holiday gift-giving for therapists and teachers is more than a tradition in some families. It is a way to show respect and consideration for contributing to the progress and growth of their children. For Driana P., of Baltimore, the therapists and Early Intervention specialists providing services for her son Elijah (2, Pervasive Developmental Disorder) are more than people doing a job. “They really care about him, so I care about them.” For Driana, whether or not to give depends upon the relationship between her son, his professionals, and their family.

Gift Giving and the Unique World of the Special Needs Child

Classroom teachers, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, classroom aides, bus drivers, IEP advocates, Early Intervention Coordinators – okay, some Special Needs kids have a lot of relationships with professionals! If the thought of all this extra shopping makes you want to grab your wallet and cry, remember that the gift is not about wowing with “bling”, but, rather about expressing a feeling. Cathy K., a former Special Education teacher in Palm Beach County, Florida, says “I know that I did not do it for the holiday gifts. With that said, every gift I got (either homemade or store bought) was cherished. It made me feel appreciated for all of the hard work I did with the children and their families all year. Something as little as a loaf of homemade banana bread and a handwritten note was enough to bring me to tears and make what I did every day worthwhile.”

Gift Cards aren’t Just Cold, Hard Plastic

Gift cards are flexible and budget friendly gifts because the opportunities are endless – groceries, restaurants, gas, movie tickets, malls, e-stores, specialty shops, large discount stores. You can select a favorite retailer, pampering service, or buy a good as cash gift card from one of the national credit card companies. Don’t think gift cards need to be large dollar amounts to make a difference. Yes, they know exactly how much you spent, but a small gift card for a desirable store or item can be a nice supplement. And the sincere note included with the gift card is an important part of the present.

For Some, Professional is Personal

Teachers have a reputation for using their own money to compensate for small classroom budgets. Many therapists personally purchase toys and therapy supplies, and then loan or give those items to their patients. “We’re in touch with teachers and therapists around the country, and many are digging into their own pockets to purchase the toys and therapy products needed for children. This year is especially difficult given the severe budget cuts at the city and state levels,” says Daniela Weiss, Marketing Consultant for Fun and Function (https://funandfunction.com/), a kid-friendly toy, therapy, and educational supply company. Teachers and therapists also pay out of pocket for continuing professional education. A gift certificate to a Special Needs supply company lets them choose between resources to increase their professional knowledge or tools to use with their students and clients.

From Me to You

There are three different ways a gift can be personal: it reflects the giver, it reflects the recipient, or it reflects a little of both. Terry R., of Nashville, mother of Justin (12, Autism Spectrum Disorder) considers home-cooked gifts for her son’s teachers and school support team to be personal because of the thought and love she puts into her cooking. Terry says, “I want our gifts to be enjoyable as well as a sign of genuine appreciation.” Other parents might have their children participate in gift selection or make a handmade craft so the personal touch is from the child. Some are very clever at finding out a therapist’s or teacher’s likes and interests, and use this information to buy or make a gift. The choice of how to personalize a gift is, well, personal. Whether you are a shopper or a maker, you can use the gift giving season as an opportunity to express your feelings about the people who are changing your child for the better.

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Gift Giving and the Unique World of the Special Needs Child

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