Local Holiday pop-up shop highlights meaningful gifts for blind or visually impaired people

Braille Institute Coachella Valley is making it easier to find the perfect presents for your friends or family members who may be blind or visually impaired.

This holiday season, the institute is teaming up with GiftedBack to host a one-day Holiday Pop-up Shop in Palm Desert. GiftedBack offers products exclusively made by blind and visually impaired individuals in the Coachella Valley. Their handmade crafts and useful everyday items help make life easier for those with little or no vision.

At the Vistas Pop Up Shop, shoppers will be able to browse through an assortment of items including white canes, talking watches, kitchen accessories, writing aids, games, and more.  Representatives from both organizations will also be onsite assist shoppers with further on-line shopping and bilingual staff will be on hand as well.

“Selecting items for the visually impaired can sometimes be confusing or difficult,” said Amy J. Sand, Regional Manager of Braille Institute Coachella Valley. “We created these Pop Up Shops to help take the stress out of purchasing items that can improve the quality of life for those living with diminished vision. We are excited to offer a hands-on opportunity for people to try out items before they purchase them, and we are very excited to team up with GiftedBack to showcase the outstanding arts and crafts created by blind and visually impaired artists. We hope this pre-holiday event will become an annual tradition.”

The event will run from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Braille Institute Coachella Valley location at 74-245 Highway 111 Suite #E101 in Palm Desert. The event is free to the public, and all walk-ins are welcome.