The Holiday season can get crazy! Here are some tips on how I have made the most of the Holidays in the past. 

1. Wear lots of layers if you are out doing your holiday shopping, enjoying the light displays, or participating in winter sportswear. Wheelchair users with a variety of diagnoses have difficulty with temperature regulation. My legs get cold quickly, so I wear fleece-lined leggings, long sweater dresses, boots, and wool socks.
2. Consider online shopping. Online shopping makes the holiday season much easier for me as a wheelchair user. I don’t have to fight the lack of accessible parking, competing with shopping carts in narrow aisles, and being exposed to viruses unnecessarily. I get my groceries delivered for a minimal fee to spend my time and energy cooking and eating rather than shopping.
3. Use gift bags instead of wrapping paper. Wrapping gifts can be time-consuming, especially for people with limited hand dexterity. I prefer gift bags, hands down, and my favorite is the draw-string gift bags that come in all shapes and sizes. They are festive and the quickest way I know to “Wrap up the holidays!"
4. Make time for rest during the holiday season. The holiday season is exhausting for everyone, but people with disabilities must be cautious about caring for their bodies. Living with my spinal cord injury for over 30 years, I have learned to eat healthy foods, get lots of sleep and keep up with my regular workout routine throughout the holidays. I get started decorating and shopping early, and I pace myself. I ask for help from family and friends when I need it. I think decorating and baking Christmas cookies is much more with the people I love, plus they can help clean up.