Janet Ingber
Whether you're a cooking novice or an expert, or if you're new to experiencing vision loss, The Blind Kitchen has a wide range of products and recipes tailored just for you. Additionally, there's a wealth of information available on cooking with a visual impairment.
The Blind Kitchen is the brainchild of Debra Erickson. She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at the age of 28; she is now 62. Erickson candidly shared, "I went into denial about vision loss. I didn't want to stop driving. I was just being much more careful. I was a single mom with two little boys. I didn't see how I could." Juggling childcare and work, relying on public transportation wasn't a practical option. A turning point occurred when she experienced a car accident, partially caused by her lack of vision. Afterwards, she decided to stop driving for good.
Erickson relocated to Oregon, and her vision loss persisted. "I was able to walk without a cane, but I was knocking over wine displays at Safeway," she explained. Despite teaching mediation at Oregon Health and Science University, her vision loss became a hindrance in social situations. "People thought I was rude because I couldn't see them walking down the hall. Since I didn't use a cane, they had no way of knowing that I had vision loss," she added. Reflecting on this period, she remarked, "It wasn't working for me anymore... I fooled myself into it."
Initially forgoing a white cane at the onset of her vision loss, Erickson eventually embraced its use as her condition progressed. Seeking support, she turned to the Oregon Commission for the Blind, where she learned braille and honed various skills. During this phase, Erickson knew she wished to return to teaching adults and wondered about the opportunities available for a teacher with vision loss. While participating in a meal prep course at the Commission, she realized she wanted to teach low vision or blind individuals how to cook. Bonding with her cooking instructor, Charlene, she recalled the unique requirement to wear sleep shades during meal prep, even though she had some remaining vision. The bond formed during this course remains strong, and Debra and Charlene are close friends.
Erickson's aspiration to impart cooking knowledge led her to pursue culinary school. Due to her existing bachelor's and master's degrees, receiving approval to attend took some time. Attending McClaskey Culinary Institute in Vancouver, she stated, "It was a wonderful experience. The chefs couldn't be any more accommodating. I learned the art, science, and history of cooking. I absolutely loved it. I still love it because you use your brain to make things come out right in the kitchen." While still employed at the Commission for the Blind, Erickson decided to decided to open a business of her own. She explained, "I wanted to give adaptive culinary tools and strategies to people who already knew how to cook but didn't know how to get back in the kitchen after vision loss." The Blind Kitchen officially launched in October 2022. Erickson recently resigned from her position at the Oregon Commission for the Blind to dedicate all her time to her business.
To learn more about Erickson's business, visit The Blind Kitchen's website. The homepage features clearly labeled links such as Shop, Library, Recipes, Contact, and Search, along with additional details about the website and Debra Erickson.
When it comes to shopping, The Blind Kitchen provides two options: by individual item or by collection. With four distinct collections - Kitchen Basics, Cutting and Chopping, Stovetop, and Oven - each includes specific items related to the topic. Initially planning to sell only collections, Erickson pivoted when she realized many consumers preferred purchasing specific items. Activating the Shopping link reveals a page with a sorting button for tailored results, defaulting to alphabetical order.
Upon selecting an item, the subsequent page offers a detailed description, clear usage instructions, and care guidelines. Many items include accompanying videos, a feature continually expanded by Erickson. The videos mirror the information found in the item description, with clearly labeled Add to Cart and Quantity buttons.
The site includes social media buttons such as "Like" and "Share" throughout, and the content of The Blind Kitchen's YouTube page includes valuable content.
The Blind Kitchen's website is a treasure trove of valuable products and information, and the site is fully accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Don't miss exploring the Library and Recipes sections for additional resources.
