by Kindy Segovia
Assistive Technology Coordinator at Kent ISD, Grand Rapids, MI
Looking for new, accessible recipes? Accessible Chef (https://accessiblechef.com/) (formerly named Your Special Chef) is an amazing resource that is free!
As the site explains, visual recipes make use of task analysis, which is an evidence-based approach for breaking down a complex task into manageable steps. Each task is separated into discrete skills, and individuals can learn to complete skills in a specific order to learn new tasks. Students may require visual, physical, or verbal prompts to complete each skill, and prompts may be gradually removed as the individual becomes more independent. Visual recipes share similarities with PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and curricula created with Boardmaker.
Check out the hundreds of visual recipes and other resources to help teach cooking skills to individuals with disabilities. Don’t see a recipe you want? Use the Recipe Creator to make your own using the template. Want to teach precooking skills, access real food images, or find out about adaptive cooking tools? Then check out the Resources page (https://accessiblechef.com/resources/).
The founder’s goal is to make cooking more accessible for everyone. Happy Cooking!
Kindy Segovia, OTR, is currently the Assistive Technology Coordinator at Kent Intermediate School District, Grand Rapids, Mich. She has worked as an occupational therapist in both schools and pediatric rehabilitation for over 25 years. She has provided educational training for teachers, parents and administrators over the past 15 years with a focus on adapting curriculum, classroom accommodations, and integrating technology into instruction. She is also an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University. Find out more from Kindy at kindysegovia.com.