Gifts for Someone with Sight Loss: Talking and Tactile
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
The most useful gifts for someone with sight loss work through sound, touch, strong contrast or large print: talking clocks, audiobooks, voice-controlled speakers, tactile games and better lighting. Specialist charity shops such as the RNIB's sell many of them, and plenty of ordinary gifts work well too.
First, find out what they can see
Sight loss covers a wide range. Some people have lost central vision and cannot read but can move around well; others see only in the centre, or find glare painful, or see very little at all. Many people who lose sight in later life still have some useful vision. Ask the person, or someone close to them, three things before you choose:
- Is large print still readable, or is sound or touch better?
- Does bright light help, or does glare make things worse?
- Do they already have the usual aids? Many people are given or lent equipment by a low-vision clinic or their local sight-loss charity.
Where to find specialist gifts
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) runs an online shop selling products designed for blind and partially sighted people. At the time of writing (November 2026) its ranges include talking and tactile clocks and watches, easy-to-see watches, big button phones and other home and leisure items. You can browse it at shop.rnib.org.uk, and the RNIB helpline can advise on what suits a particular person. Check the shop itself for current stock and prices.
Ideas by budget
Prices are a rough guide only.
| Budget | Kinds of gift |
|---|---|
| Under £20 | Large-index playing cards; a large-print puzzle book, diary or calendar; bold-lined writing paper with thick black pens; raised stick-on "bump" dots for marking cooker and washing machine controls; a liquid level indicator that beeps when a cup is nearly full; a talking keyring clock |
| £20 to £50 | A talking clock or talking watch; a clock with a large high-contrast display; talking kitchen scales; a tactile or large-print board game; a handheld illuminated magnifier; a bright, adjustable task lamp |
| £50 to £100 | A smart speaker; a tactile watch; a big button phone with photo or speed-dial keys; a simple radio with large, well-spaced controls; a year's audiobook subscription |
Talking, tactile and large print: what the terms mean
Talking
Talking products speak at the press of a button. Clocks and watches announce the time; kitchen scales, measuring jugs, thermometers and microwave ovens read out their figures. A smart speaker is the most versatile talking gift of all. It will tell the time, set timers, play radio stations and audiobooks, read the news and make calls, all by voice, though it needs home broadband and someone to set it up.
Tactile
Tactile products are read by touch. A tactile watch has a lid that lifts so the wearer can feel the hands and raised markers. There are tactile versions of dominoes, chess, draughts and other games, playing cards with braille, and stick-on bump dots that mark the settings someone uses most on an appliance. Do not assume the person reads braille; most people who lose sight in later life do not.
Large print and high contrast
For people with some sight, size and contrast do the work: big black numerals on a white clock face, large-print calendars and address books, large-index cards, and large-print books and puzzles. Everyday items in a colour that stands out from the background, such as a dark mug for milky tea or a bright chopping board, are simple and thoughtful.
Ideas by type of person
The practical one
Light is often the best present. A bright, flexible lamp aimed at the page can make more difference than a stronger magnifier; see lighting for ageing eyes and reading glasses and magnifiers. Kitchen items come next: talking scales, a level indicator, and bump dots. A big button phone makes ringing family easier.
The reader
Losing the ability to read print is one of the hardest parts of sight loss, and audiobooks give it back. RNIB runs a free Talking Books library for people with sight loss, and public libraries lend audiobooks free through apps, so check what they already have before paying for a subscription. An e-reader or tablet can enlarge text hugely and many can read aloud. A good pair of comfortable headphones is a welcome extra.
The sentimental one
Think of sound and touch in place of pictures. Record the family telling stories or grandchildren singing, make a playlist of their favourite music, or give something with a familiar scent or texture: a soft scarf, a favourite perfume, a rose for the garden chosen for its smell. If you give photographs, have them printed very large with good contrast.
The one who would rather go out
Many theatres and some cinemas offer audio-described performances, where a commentary through a headset explains what is happening on stage or screen. Museums and gardens may run touch tours. Ask the venue's access team what is available and whether a companion ticket is free or reduced; see cinema and theatre discounts. A concert, a meal out with a menu read aloud by good company, or a walk somewhere with birdsong all work without needing sight.
The one who has everything
Offer help that sight makes difficult: reading the post together once a week, labelling the freezer in large print, sorting the wardrobe, or setting up the accessibility features on a phone they already own. Good food and drink are always safe.
What to avoid
- Gifts that rely on fine vision: small-print books, detailed jigsaws, intricate craft kits, standard photo albums.
Common questions
Does the RNIB shop only sell to blind people?
No, anyone can buy from it, including relatives buying a gift. Check the shop's own pages for delivery, returns and VAT details.
Are audiobooks free for people with sight loss?
RNIB's Talking Books library is free to people with sight loss, and public libraries lend digital audiobooks free to all members. Check both before buying a subscription.
Is a tablet a good idea?
It can be, because text can be enlarged and read aloud, but only if someone sets those features up and gives patient help. See tablets for over-60s.