I know I haven't participated much in the group, but I have lurked for a few years and know that some/many of you have mentally challenged adults in your lives. Let me apologize in advance for the length of this post. 
Here's the story and my question... my 20-year old daughter has a summer job working at a home for mentally challenged adults. She loves her residents like sisters and brothers. She attends college during the school year and always makes sure to send cards for holidays - especially the fun holidays such as Halloween. Anyway, last year she gave them all bird Beanie Babies for Christmas.
The rules are very clear on gift-giving by employees - all residents must receive a gift and the gifts must all be the same, though they can vary a bit. For example, last year she gave all bird Beanie Babies and though the specific Beanies were different, they were all birds, so the gift qualified under the rules.
She's got so many Beanies that she could probably do dog Beanies this year, but she's hesitant to give Beanies a second time as that would cause some of her residents to then expect Beanies every year, which could result in disappointment. She does not want to disappoint, so she's trying to come up with some other gift.
So, she's got 16 residents, six men and ten women, from 20 to 67 years of age. Some are very functional and others are on the other end of the spectrum. Food gifts are not allowed as most have dietary plans.
What kind of gift might be good for this group? She could do so well if she was allowed to buy individual gifts. One loves barrettes, one loves puzzles, one loves picture books... but she has to come up with one gift that is suitable for all. She'd be so appreciative for some ideas. My best one was to paint their names on inexpensive 'foam' visors and though she said it was a great idea, they've done those at their 'work' setting.
Coloring books and such won't work as not all can manipulate the crayon.
She'd thought of decorating picture frames and giving them all a picture of her but wasn't sure if some of the families might object to a picture of an employee joining the family pictures. What do you think? The families all seem to really like my daughter but my daughter just isn't sure if that would be crossing a line of some sort.
She'd also thought of making sock monkeys/variations but hasn't yet researched the cost, mostly because she's not sure if she'd have time to finish 16 before Christmas. She works three on-campus jobs though and two of them are 'monitoring'-type positions so she might be able to get quite a few knocked out during work... though that then pushes the homework. I suppose I could help but I'm not sure we can do it on her budget.
$4.00 limit, tops, as she's a struggling college student. Under a buck would be even better. The Beanies were free as they were hers. She then spent her money making very cute decorative packages so they'd all have something pretty under the tree.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any and all ideas. We're both at a loss.
debg
Here's the story and my question... my 20-year old daughter has a summer job working at a home for mentally challenged adults. She loves her residents like sisters and brothers. She attends college during the school year and always makes sure to send cards for holidays - especially the fun holidays such as Halloween. Anyway, last year she gave them all bird Beanie Babies for Christmas.
The rules are very clear on gift-giving by employees - all residents must receive a gift and the gifts must all be the same, though they can vary a bit. For example, last year she gave all bird Beanie Babies and though the specific Beanies were different, they were all birds, so the gift qualified under the rules.
She's got so many Beanies that she could probably do dog Beanies this year, but she's hesitant to give Beanies a second time as that would cause some of her residents to then expect Beanies every year, which could result in disappointment. She does not want to disappoint, so she's trying to come up with some other gift.
So, she's got 16 residents, six men and ten women, from 20 to 67 years of age. Some are very functional and others are on the other end of the spectrum. Food gifts are not allowed as most have dietary plans.
What kind of gift might be good for this group? She could do so well if she was allowed to buy individual gifts. One loves barrettes, one loves puzzles, one loves picture books... but she has to come up with one gift that is suitable for all. She'd be so appreciative for some ideas. My best one was to paint their names on inexpensive 'foam' visors and though she said it was a great idea, they've done those at their 'work' setting.
Coloring books and such won't work as not all can manipulate the crayon.
She'd thought of decorating picture frames and giving them all a picture of her but wasn't sure if some of the families might object to a picture of an employee joining the family pictures. What do you think? The families all seem to really like my daughter but my daughter just isn't sure if that would be crossing a line of some sort.
She'd also thought of making sock monkeys/variations but hasn't yet researched the cost, mostly because she's not sure if she'd have time to finish 16 before Christmas. She works three on-campus jobs though and two of them are 'monitoring'-type positions so she might be able to get quite a few knocked out during work... though that then pushes the homework. I suppose I could help but I'm not sure we can do it on her budget.
$4.00 limit, tops, as she's a struggling college student. Under a buck would be even better. The Beanies were free as they were hers. She then spent her money making very cute decorative packages so they'd all have something pretty under the tree.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any and all ideas. We're both at a loss.
debg
