Accessibility

The Recipe Calls For a Serving of Independence

Some of my best memories were created in my mom’s kitchen. There is something about preparing a holiday meal together that strengthens family bonds and bridges generational gaps. I am grateful that my mom didn’t give up on learning to adapt and pursue her independence.

My mom had vision into her early 20s. However, she knew it was likely that she would lose her vision as time went and made independence her priority. She learned how to read braille, handle a guide dog, cook, clean, and care for herself. She even attended college and eventually graduated school. I imagine these tasks all had some level of frustration, but independence was her primary goal. It was an uphill climb.

Independence in Action

When people ask what it’s like having blind parents, I only remember Mom preparing meals and baking goods with ease. Sure, there were some mishaps that we all have in the kitchen, but she didn’t let a few burned biscuits stop her. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how organized my mom was with meal preparation. She spent time putting everything in its place, labeling food items and spices, placing raised dots on the stove and microwave, and having some adaptive items. My mom learned a lot of these adaptive methods from the Division of Blind Services and similar programs. I remember reading family recipes to my mom and she typed them in braille. Back then it was time-consuming, but today I know it was time well spent. As we read through recipes, Mom would tell my siblings and me stories about each family member and the recipes they contributed to our cookbook. She is a great storyteller and had a way of placing us right in our great-grandmother’s kitchen. We worked on that cookbook for many months. However, I didn’t notice the magnitude of those days spent reading recipes until my daughter was in the kitchen.

When my daughter was young, she worked next to my mom in the kitchen. They measured, mixed, and of course, told family stories. My mom read the recipes from the homemade braille family cookbook we made years prior. The familiar smell of chocolate chip cookies and pecan pie filled the air. I was immediately taken back to my younger years and reading the cookbook.

Keeping with Tradition

Today, I look around my kitchen and I see many tools that are accessible. Alexa (Amazon) can access recipes that allow me to hear each step, rather than read a cookbook. My nesting measuring cups have raised markings that can be felt, just like my mom had. The adjustable measuring spoons have ridges that indicate when I am increasing a measurement. My mixing bowls have engraved markings that allow me to feel each measurement. My oven automatically starts at 350 degrees and beeps at 5 degrees increments when I add or reduce the temperature. Look around your kitchen and see how many items can be considered adaptive for a person losing their eyesight. Think about how vital these conveniences could become to you or a loved one facing vision loss.

Now, You’re Cooking

In 1990, all Americans were granted equality. I think about all of this in awe because of what my mom was able to accomplish in the 1960s and 1970s. She was successful because she learned to self-advocate, and she accessed valuable resources.

Schools for the Blind, Blind Services and organizations like Lighthouse for the Blind are vital for people learning how to live without sight.   They teach techniques for cooking, daily living, adapting to a new life, and gaining independence. National advocacy groups also play a significant role in educating people with a visual impairment or blindness on how to be independent and access services

If you or a loved one is facing vision loss or decline in vision it can be overwhelming, do not lose hope. Accessibility laws, modifications, and adaptations make independent living possible.

Christine Sket

Christine Sket has always lived in a world reliant on accessibility efforts. Born to parents with blindness, Christine learned earlier than many about the need for civil rights laws and inclusion. She devotes her life to advocating for people with visual and cognitive disabilities. Christine is Braille Works’ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) subject matter expert and shares her knowledge about laws, life experiences, and moving toward a more inclusive society.

Recent Posts

7 Mobile Apps for People with Visual Disabilities

These days, there's an app for almost everything. In recent years, developers have embraced more…

2 weeks ago

Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day

The need for digital accessibility is more significant than ever. Don't believe us? Just look…

3 weeks ago

Section 1557: Understanding Document Accessibility Requirements

The 2024 final rule updating Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has stirred…

4 weeks ago

Tax Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year again: Tax Time!  Some of us have procrastinated doing…

2 months ago

Our Favorite Stories This Year

Accessibility is at the core of everything we do at Braille Works. It empowers people…

5 months ago

Braille Christmas Crafts and Treats

With Christmas just a few days away, we thought it would be a perfect time…

6 months ago