Cooking at home is a great way to eat healthily and save money. It can even be a fun way to connect with family and friends. But many kitchens are not set up in a way that makes it easy for people who are blind or low vision to cook. Poorly lit counters and hard-to-reach appliances may discourage you from the kitchen. But there are things you or your landlord can do to make your kitchen more accessible.
Lighting and Contrast
One of the biggest changes you can make to your kitchen is to provide adequate lighting. A single overhead light probably won’t provide enough light to see what you are doing. The easiest remedy is to find bright stick-on lights to add to any area of your kitchen where you regularly work. Placing these lights above your counter space and stovetop will create fewer shadows than if you only use an overhead light. If you place your lights correctly, you can eliminate almost all shadows your hands and cooking utensils may otherwise create.
Good contrast between the counter and your cooking space is also vital. If your countertop is white, a black or dark-colored cutting board will provide great contrast, enabling you to better see what you’re working with. You can use your high-contrast cutting board for other food prep besides cutting. It can also help you find your cooking utensils after you’re done using them. If you place a white spoon on your white countertop, it will be a lot harder to find than if you put it on your black cutting board. The High Contrast Cutting Board we carry in the Sharper Vision Store works very well for this purpose.
Appliances
In many newer homes and apartments, the microwave will be placed above the stovetop to save counter space. This can be dangerous for someone who is blind or low vision, as you will need to reach over potentially hot surfaces to grab another potentially hot dish out of the microwave. Additionally, having to reach up to get at the microwave can increase the risk of spilling and burning yourself. All appliances should be at normal arm level on a counter to make accessing them easy and safe. If you live in an apartment where counter space is limited, consider getting a microwave cart to place your appliances on so you still have room to prepare your food. You can also talk to your landlord or housing manager about why you need your microwave in a different location so that they can potentially work with you to come up with a better solution.
Try to find an oven that has all its controls on the front panel instead of on the back. That way, you don’t have to reach over the stovetop, which could have hot burners and pans, to get at the controls. If you rent your home, talk with your landlord and try to find an apartment that has an oven and other appliances that work for you.
Labeling
Using tactile labels on your canned goods is a great way to quickly find what you’re looking for. Puff paint and bump dots can be applied to any item in your pantry to help you identify your ingredients. When an item with a screw-on lid is empty, you can remove the lid you have marked with puff paint put it on the new container if you have bought the same brand and size. This will save both paint and time.
Puff paint and bump dots can also be used on your appliances. When using these on your appliances, be sure to only mark what you need to. Putting a bump dot on every button on your microwave will make it harder rather than easier to find the button you’re looking for. Instead, put one bump dot on the center “5” button and another on the “Start” button. That will allow you to easily navigate the control panel without making it too cluttered.
Bump dots and puff paint, as well as a variety of other labeling products, are available in the labeling section Sharper Vision Store.
Organization
Being smart and strategic about how your kitchen is organized will make it easier to begin cooking. Things you use often, like pots and pans, should be kept within reach, while things you don’t use often should be kept on a higher shelf. Keeping your cooking space clean will also make cooking more enjoyable. Be sure to wipe up any spills and messes as soon as possible. It’s easier to clean up liquid right away than after it’s dried on. Run your hand over the counters to check for any spills or debris.
When your kitchen is set up for accessibility, cooking can both help you stay healthy and be an enjoyable activity. A wide variety of adaptive kitchen items are available in the Sharper Vision Store. You can shop in person at 754 Williamson Street in Madison or online at store.wcblind.org/store/kitchen.
If you need help learning to navigate your kitchen, you may be able to benefit from vision rehabilitation therapy. To learn more about vision rehab, contact the Council at Info@WCBlind.org or 608-255-1166, or fill out the Vision Services Request Form on our website.
