Podcast Summary: "Managing Holiday Cards and Gifts with Vision Loss"

Podcast: Hadley Presents: A Conversation with the Experts
Host: Ricky Enger
Guests: Tiffany Mpofu (Practical Help Specialist), Steve Kelly
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This festive episode of "Hadley Presents" dives into practical tips for navigating the challenges of holiday cards and gifting with vision loss. Host Ricky Enger is joined by Hadley experts Tiffany Mpofu and Steve Kelly, who share hands-on strategies, favorite tools, and personal stories to make holiday logistics accessible, less stressful, and just as joyful.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Choosing and Shopping for Holiday Cards

• In-Store Shopping Tips
  • Tiffany uses a digital magnifier for adjustable enlargement and contrast, making intricate fonts and faint designs easier to see.
    • “Sometimes the print is fine or has thin lines, so being able to change the contrast…is helpful.” – Tiffany, (03:35)
  • She recommends asking for assistance at the store entrance to find the correct aisle and section.
• Technology for Card Selection
  • Steve leans on online services like Snapfish, leveraging computer magnification to choose and customize cards:
    • “I take a design…on the computer. And…because I've got magnification…I can pretty much decide what I'm going to do.” – Steve, (04:25)
  • Uses pocket magnifiers and smartphone cameras in-store for reading fine print and inspecting designs.

2. Personalizing Messages and Addressing Cards

• Handwritten Notes with Vision Loss

  • Steve prefers block print and uses high-strength Aschenbach readers or magnifying wearables for clarity (05:42).
  • Recommends writing guides for keeping messages and signatures neat.

• Tiffany’s Method

  • Writes messages in large print on blank areas, signs in script, and uses video magnifiers at home for boxed cards (06:47).

• Tech Solutions

  • Ricky and others use Word’s mail merge for printing addresses or opt for online services like Hallmark that post cards directly (08:52, 09:06).

3. Reading Cards Received

• Accessible Tools and Apps
  • Tiffany photographs cards with her tablet or uses her phone’s magnifier; prefers Microsoft’s Seeing AI app for reading handwritten messages aloud.
    • “That tool, seeing AI, I also use…that has become my primary way of doing things now when reading cards.” – Tiffany, (10:29)
  • Steve sometimes uses Google Lookout, and is keen to try Meta Glasses for real-time reading (10:58).

4. Holiday Gift Shopping Strategies

• In-Store Approaches
  • Tiffany does a “zigzag” through departments, slowing down to feel, read tags (with magnifiers), and examine sizes/prices (12:41).
  • Suggests coming in with specific ideas and using in-store pickup for easier retrieval (14:00).
• Seeking Assistance
  • Steve prefers off-peak hours and smaller local shops to ensure help is available (14:43).
• Online Shopping
  • Both find being familiar with the layout of favorite sites (Amazon, Target) reduces barriers.
  • Ricky introduces InnoSearch AI, an accessible aggregator for comparing prices and shopping across multiple sites, designed for low vision users (17:49–19:22).
  • Steve highlights the value of calling local stores directly—especially for the less tech-comfortable—who often provide personal shopping and gift wrapping (19:22).

5. Making Gifts Festive & Keeping Them Organized

• Gift Wrapping and Labeling
  • Pre-cut wrapping sheets and gift bags are favored for ease and creativity (22:33).
  • Tiffany’s family uses color-coded or design-coded wrapping to identify recipients easily:
    • “If my gifts are in blue, everyone would wrap my gifts in blue…using designs is another way of knowing who has what.” – Tiffany, (23:23)
  • Steve labels in large print, uses bold markers or distinctive tags; location method under the tree helps, too (24:27).

6. General Tips for a Low-Stress, Inclusive Holiday

• Plan Ahead
  • Both guests stress pre-planning—especially for in-person shopping or arranging support—to avoid crowds and ensure accommodations (25:45).
  • Steve notes planning ahead helps preserve holiday joy and avoid last-minute stress:
    • “…I know it's just going to take more time for me…By giving myself more time…I’m able to stay a little more in the holiday spirit.” – Steve, (26:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s always a little bit of duress there, but…my approach is completely different because I use a service like Snapfish…” – Steve, (04:25)
• “Sometimes when it comes to the messages inside the card…the print is kind of fine…so being able to have the option to change the contrast…is helpful.” – Tiffany, (03:35)
• “I would use a block print…maybe getting a writing guide would be a helpful thing to do.” – Steve, (05:42)
• “Seeing AI…can also be [used for] handwritten messages…and you can take a picture and get [the app] to describe the card for you. So it’s super cool.” – Ricky, (10:29)
• “We would use a color method. So if my gifts are in blue, everyone would wrap my gifts in blue.” – Tiffany, (23:23)
• “I generally am a last-minute person…but I tend to start doing a little bit more planning ahead, because I know it's just going to take more time…so I can stay in the holiday spirit.” – Steve, (26:15)

Key Timestamps

• Introduction & Episode Purpose: 00:01–01:03
• In-Store Card Shopping Challenges & Solutions: 02:29–04:25
• Using Technology for Cards (Online Services & Magnifiers): 04:25–05:21
• Writing Messages & Addressing Cards: 05:21–07:31
• Reading Cards Received (Seeing AI, Phone Magnifiers, Meta Glasses): 09:47–11:30
• Gift Shopping Tactics (In-person & Online): 12:41–19:22
• Alternative to Online: Calling Local Stores: 19:22–20:31
• New Accessible Shopping Tools (InnoSearch AI, Phone-based Shopping): 17:49–21:37
• Gift Wrapping & Organization: 22:33–24:27
• Final Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress: 25:45–27:06
• Episode Wrap-up: 28:07

Takeaways

This episode is packed with practical, lived-experience advice for making cards and gifts accessible and stress-free with vision loss. Whether using assistive tech, recruiting store help, planning ahead, or leveraging simple, creative solutions like color-coded wrapping, listeners will find encouragement—and maybe even recapture a little holiday joy.

For resources or to contact the show, visit HadleyHelps.org or email podcast@hadleyhelps.org.