Special Gifts aims to support equity in employment and business for disabled New Zealanders

One in Four People have a Disability in Aotearoa

Despite their unique skills, disabled people are often underemployed and are, therefore, financially disadvantaged. Many overcome this by starting their own business. Special Gifts aims to support disabled entrepreneurs and businesses who employ disabled people on fair wages by promoting their high-quality products to the rest of the country.​
The four founders of Change Maker

One in Four People have a Disability in Aotearoa

Despite their unique skills, disabled people are often underemployed and are, therefore, financially disadvantaged. Many overcome this by starting their own business. Special Gifts aims to support disabled entrepreneurs and businesses who employ disabled people on fair wages by promoting their high-quality products to the rest of the country.​

Check out our amazing partners

Friend of Special Gift, Scott, checking out one of our gift boxes

How does Special Gifts help disabled entrepreneurs?​

One of the significant barriers disabled entrepreneurs face is the ability to promote their products cost-effectively.  Special Gifts curate their products into gift boxes. They also provide a marketplace to sell their products at no cost to disabled people or businesses supplying products.   
Friend of Special Gift, Scott, checking out one of our gift boxes

How does Special Gifts help disabled entrepreneurs?​

One of the significant barriers disabled entrepreneurs face is the ability to promote their products cost-effectively.  Special Gifts curate their products into gift boxes. They also provide a marketplace to sell their products at no cost to disabled people or businesses supplying products.   

Popular Gift Boxes

How does Special Gifts support organisations' diversity and inclusion journey?

Special Gifts recognises that there are many ways that organisations can support diversity and inclusion in their workplace; however, disabled people are often overlooked and forgotten in this process. Special Gifts wants to work with organisations, whether they are starting or sector champions, to increase awareness and acceptance of disability in the workplace. We want to turn organisations' intentions into tangible actions. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss how we might be able to support your organisation.

How does Special Gifts support organisations' diversity and inclusion journey?

Special Gifts recognises that there are many ways that organisations can support diversity and inclusion in their workplace; however, disabled people are often overlooked and forgotten in this process. Special Gifts wants to work with organisations, whether they are starting or sector champions, to increase awareness and acceptance of disability in the workplace. We want to turn organisations' intentions into tangible actions. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss how we might be able to support your organisation.

Corporate Partners that have used SpecialGifts

Young man with down syndrome in a ehite top is looking up at a older man in a grey top. Their heads are close together and the older mans hands are on the younger mans shoulder. Both are smiling.
We are all about supporting relationships

How does Special Gifts support the community?

The profits from Special Gift boxes go back into supporting our current partners and future disabled entrepreneurs to expand their brands and businesses. We create resources, events, and networking opportunities. We are always looking for activities and people to sponsor and support.
Young man with down syndrome in a ehite top is looking up at a older man in a grey top. Their heads are close together and the older mans hands are on the younger mans shoulder. Both are smiling.
We are all about supporting relationships

How does Special Gifts support the community?

The profits from Special Gift boxes go back into supporting our current partners and future disabled entrepreneurs to expand their brands and businesses. We create resources, events, and networking opportunities. We are always looking for activities and people to sponsor and support.

How does Special Gifts support the community?

Between them, Suzanne Jones and Dr Katrina Phillips have over 40 years of experience in the disability sector. They worked together, supporting disabled people to find employment as partners in New Zealand’s first training cafe for adults with Intellectual disabilities – Te Tuhi Cafe. Some trainees said they would rather start their own businesses during this process. Suzanne and Katrina noticed that despite these products being needed in our community and high quality, the disabled entrepreneurs struggled to sell to a non-disabled audience. It was in this space that SpecialGifts was born, a platform that allows the promotion of disabled people’s products to the broader community at no cost to them.
Photo of Suzanne Jones wearing white tshirt and Katrina Phillips wearing a floral shirt standing ourside.