The Chinese Christine Ha, who won the hugely popular American TV program MasterChef in 2012, proved that being blind or partially sighted does not have to be an obstacle when cooking. Blind and visually impaired people can prepare their meal independently and relaxed, just like sighted people. Obviously, a blind or visually impaired person uses his other senses during cooking. Listening, smelling, tasting and feeling are fine for people with a visual handicap. Some aids are useful before, during and after cooking.
- For cooking: Preparation and aids for blind and partially sighted people
- Order and structure
- Custom reading
- Labels
- Tools
- While cooking: Cooking aids for a person who is blind or partially sighted
- Cooker
- Anti-boil over plate
- Piepei
- After cooking: Food and drink
- Plate border
- Liquid level detector
For cooking: Preparation and aids for blind and partially sighted people
A person with a visual impairment sometimes learns to cook for himself, but this can also be learned through a home counseling service or during rehabilitation. They usually use a few tools and / or adjustments for this. Most aids can be ordered online through a resource supplier. The citation of this article lists the suppliers who sell cooking aids.
Order and structure
Order and structure are important for blind and partially sighted people, which applies in all circumstances, including cooking preparations. Try to make sure that each item is always put away after use and always in the same designated place. Waste, rarely used and expired products should be thrown away by a visually impaired person as soon as possible. He also places all the cutlery neatly organized in drawers, such as forks on the left, spoons in the middle and knives on the right. He places sharp knives and other potentially dangerous kitchen items in a separate place that is not close to other utensils. He also places the most used pots and pans at a specific location within reach, or in a cupboard near the hob. Also in the refrigerator you bring a good structure so that you can find all food products quickly. It is of course important that other family members adhere to this order and structure and do not make unsolicited changes.
Custom reading
Adapted reading is very useful for blind and partially sighted people. Various cookbooks are already available in Braille and / or speech and / or large print. Cookbooks warmly received by the target group are “Cooking with feeling”. and “Baking with feeling”, both written by the Dutch Judith Eurlings. The books contain practical tips from blind and partially sighted people and the blind organization Koninklijke Visio. The aim is therefore to cook non-visually. The books are available in the combination of Braille and large print as well as in spoken format.
Labels
Issue
It is not always easy for blind and partially sighted people to distinguish products of the same size and shape. An example of this is opening a can of fruit cocktail instead of a can of chicken soup. A problem also quickly arises with frozen products. Some tips, tools and adjustments are available to avoid this confusion.
Labels
For example, if a visually impaired person goes shopping, he can already ask in the store to separate products from each other when this ends up in the (backpack) pocket. At home, he can immediately label the purchased items by means of self-adhesive labels, marked with large letters, tactile dots, color-coded labels, Braille labels, a magnet in the shape of the food in the can, … With varying numbers of rubber bands are also products for example, two rubber bands for mixed fruits, three for green vegetables, four for sauces, and so on. If the person has forgotten which products he has bought, it is advisable that he involves a relative or neighbor in identifying the products.
Label pen
In addition, a label pen or barcode reader is a useful tool. This allows a blind or partially sighted person to record a short message and assign it to a special label, which he then sticks to an article. If he then scans the label of the article with the label pen, it reads what the content of the product is.
Tools
Color detector
A color detector is useful for various cooking preparations, for example to know what color a can or packaging has.
Cutting board
Thanks one cutting board with raised edges or a cutting board with caps, someone who is blind or visually impaired will not quickly spill food. For the visually impaired, it is important to choose a contrasting color with the worktop or kitchen table, just like for a number of other items.
Scale
With a speaking kitchen scales (household scale) you can very accurately measure quantities of ingredients. Different types are available, depending on the options you want: speech, weight capacity, day, calendar and time display, headphone connection and so on. Sometimes you can also find a talking scale in a regular store.
Measuring cup
The speaking measuring cup gives you the exact content of all kinds of liquids and even solids such as sugar, down to the milliliter. This device works on batteries. There are also measuring cups with tactile indications.
Kitchen timers
Furthermore, there are kitchen timers with dot indication, with a large digital display and a speaking version. Blind and visually impaired people are thus able to keep an eye on the time while cooking. Sometimes such kitchen timers are also available in the ordinary trade.
Microwave or combi oven
There are adjustments for the microwave or (combi) oven. A talking microwave with tactile buttons is available. The appliance can even give speaking instructions during cooking, and you can also “keep an eye on” the time. You can mark some normal microwave and combi ovens yourself with brand paste, so that you know approximately at what setting or how many degrees you have set the microwave or combi oven. Branding paste is a type of fluorescent-looking clay that you can use to mark something in relief so that both visually impaired and blind can use it. In addition, separate marking and identification marks are available in different shapes.
While cooking: Cooking aids for a person who is blind or partially sighted
Cooker
Usually the blind and visually impaired prefer one simple induction or ceramic hob as this feels a lot safer to them. A digital hob is definitely not recommended for the blind. Rotary knobs that are markable are much more convenient for the blind and visually impaired target group. It is often very difficult to see the dials on a stove and other appliances. Applying (tactile) dots is a sustainable and effective alternative. In the ordinary trade, special yellow silicone cooking mats are available to place over a hob so that the cooking pot or pan cannot be placed incorrectly. They are easy to clean, but a disadvantage is that they can only be used with ATAG and Pelgrim induction hobs.
Anti-boil over plate
When you get a anti-boil over plate in a jar of liquid, you will hear a chattering sound when it starts to boil. Handy for the blind and partially sighted target group, because that way they do not have to constantly stand by the cooking pot.
Peepei
Cooking eggs has never been easier. Thanks one beep with three different melodies, a blind or partially sighted person gets to know whether the egg is soft boiled, medium boiled or hard boiled.
After cooking: Food and drink
Plate border
A plastic plate border you place on a plate. This makes it easier to scoop up food without spilling it. You can put such a plate rim in the dishwasher or easily wash it by hand.
Liquid level detector
You can also use a liquid level detector, also known as a level indicator. This is a small device that emits a sound and / or vibration signal when the poured liquid reaches the rim of the cup or glass.
