Ability

I'm back in my kitchen. Back in familiar surroundings with the aromas and spices I missed so much when I was on the road.  

Lethbridge, Alberta

Work took me across Canada, visiting communities north and west of Ottawa, Ontario, sharing my journalistic experiences with budding reporters. My mission was to teach them the basics of news gathering and televised reporting.

With CTV News Anchor Lloyd Robertson in Sudbury, Ontario 

AK's journalism workshop in Edmonton, Alberta

Most of the participants in my workshop live without sight. Some without hearing. Others with mobility challenges and brain disorders, such as cerebral palsy.

Before embarking on my cross-country endeavour, I wondered how -- with such physical limitations -- can they possibly gather news, scan written data, write engaging stories and present their work?

Not easy. But not impossible. Will and technology can be great enablers.  

With the help of special software and ear buds or headphones, users can hear the printed word. Mechanical devices called Braillers let users tap out their text in a series of raised dots. Their fingers read their tactile writing. In other cases, super large, high contrast text makes reading possible on a computer screen. 
  
With the right tools, there need not be dis-ability, only different abilities. What may seem  impossible merely takes some creativity and extra time. 

For me, dictations apps, big fonts and the speak feature on my smart phone allow me to work.

I'm slowly easing back into my kitchen after an inspiring, energizing adventure across Canada. 

I couldn't leave you without some edible inspiration: 

Wild Sockeye Salmon on a bed of risotto

Brûléed lemon custard with crème fraîche and gold dust

Sliced & Diced in AK's Kitchen: A Lesson in Accessibility

As promised, here is the continuation of my conversation on accessibility and safety in the kitchen. It's useful for those of us who need to make our kitchens more accessible for children, seniors or anyone with a visual impairment.

 

A couple of helpful links:
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Eye Foods

The Next Big Kitchen Reno - Safety & Accessibility

When I planned my big kitchen reno three years ago, I thought I had covered all the bases. The big island, an efficient work triangle, lots of light. One aspect that had never entered into my planning was accessibility.

I had never considered how to make my kitchen wheelchair accessible, or accessible for someone with a visual impairment. These are questions many of us don't entertain.

Considering that every 12 minutes, someone in Canada begins to lose his vision, and that among seniors over 65, one in three will suffer a fall in their own home, accessibility needs to become part of our planning. The simple fact is, if you can't get around your kitchen safely and comfortably, you probably won't cook. If you don't cook, you probably don't feed yourself the most nutritious, economical meals.

Leona Emberson, of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, gave me some pointers on making my kitchen accessible and safe.

Here's one practical pointer for everyone, especially those of us with children. Do NOT leave your knife like this...

Instead, tuck the blade underneath the board, like so...

When fingers are fumbling around in the kitchen, they won't encounter a sharp blade.
Another tip for people with failing vision or who are very near-sighted is to use LARGE PRINT on index cards. Attach those index cards with a rubber band to the cans in your pantry. This makes identifying the contents very easy. After you open the can, keep the index card in a pile for your next grocery list.   

Contrast is another useful tool. Equip your kitchen with the two cutting boards; a black board for light coloured foods, and a white cutting board for meats and other dark foods. The high contrast will help you see what you're cutting.

I have started implementing these ideas and already, my kitchen is safer and more accessible.

I'll have my on-camera chat Leona available soon.