Everyone has a place at the table in The Blind Kitchen!
Welcome to The Blind Kitchen where adaptive tools, helpful strategies, and specialized knowledge are provided to blind and vision-impaired people who want to cook safely, confidently, and independently.
We made the news …
Listen to Chef Debra’s recent interview with Accessible World’s Tek Talk host Larry Gassman.
What The Blind Kitchen does
The Blind Kitchen ships practical adaptive cooking tools to blind and visually impaired cooks to assist with a safe, confident, and independent cooking experience in their own kitchens. We also provide blind-friendly tips and strategies for the many aspects related to cooking that do not involve a specific tool or kitchen equipment.
Learn in The Blind Kitchen library
Our library offers tips for dining out, cooking at home, identifying ingredients, and much much more. Watch The Blind Kitchen Library overview and then go to the Library page to learn more.
Shop for what you need
Get what you need to cook safely and independently in your own kitchen. Almost every tool included in a collection is also available individually and most include learning videos. Watch our Welcome to The Blind Kitchen overview and then go to the Shop page to see for yourself.
How do the first four collections work?
Subscribers to The Blind Kitchen will receive four themed collections of blind-friendly tools and equipment shipped directly to their homes. All items are labeled in large print and braille. Members will have access to The Blind Kitchen Library, which contains short audio-described video tutorials to teach what each tool does, why it is adaptive for cooks with vision loss, instructions and demonstrations as to how to use each tool, and tips for storing and caring for them. All items are practical and do not require any specialized training or equipment to use.
The Blind Kitchen’s first four collections
Each of these collections contains 15 to 20 tools specially curated for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Watch The Collections Overview video for more details on each of the collections.
Box 1: Kitchen Basics Collection
Measuring, portioning, setting up a safe and efficient work area, labeling, etc.
Box 2: Cutting and Chopping Collection
Items and techniques for safe use of sharp kitchen items
Box 3: Stovetop Collection
Items to cook safely on the stovetop and in the oven
Box 4: Oven Collection
Items related to specific cooking methods that involve heat
Purchase all four at once and save!
Many believe it is dangerous for people who have vision loss to cook because it involves working with sharp objects and sources of heat. This is not true! I, along with thousands of others, am proof that people with vision loss can cook safely, confidently, and independently with the right tools and information.
Executive chef and founder
I am Debra Erickson, executive chef and founder of The Blind Kitchen. I am also blind and want to welcome you into The Blind Kitchen community where vision loss does not have to end your love of cooking. You just need to learn the adaptive tools and techniques to work around your vision loss. I am a culinary school graduate and a cooking instructor for blind and visually impaired adults and I am excited to share what I have learned on my culinary journey!
Watch or listen to the video below to learn more about our kitchen tools.
Watch or listen to the video below to learn more about our collections.
The Blind Kitchen Library
Watch or listen to the video below to learn more about our library.
The Blind Kitchen also serves as a repository of information from many sources on many aspects related to cooking with vision loss that are not associated with a specific piece of equipment or tool. These helpful tips include ways to safely manage hot cooking methods and safely use sharp tools. Cooking does not always start or end in the kitchen, and vision loss should not be a reason why we cannot perform other activities related to meal preparation.
Videos related to how blind and visually impaired people can organize their kitchen and pantry, identify food items in closed containers, label items in their kitchen and pantry, shop, access and read recipes, dine out and entertain guests with confidence and grace can be found in The Blind Kitchen Library where every video is audio described.
New content will be added to The Blind Kitchen website often.
Latest from the Library
- White Canes Connect Podcast
Exploring The Blind Kitchen: Chef Debra Erickson’s Culinary Vision White Canes Connect podcast hosts, David Goldstein and Lisa Bryant, really made me feel at ease, and there was a lot of humor going back and forth. What great chemistry they generated to make me feel so very comfortable in our conversation. Chef Debra In this episode … Read more - How to cook ground meat perfectly every time!
Cooking ground meats to be sure they are fully cooked and not overcooked can be tricky for a blind or visually impaired person. Here are a few steps to make sure ground meat is cooked perfectly every time. Some common recipes that call for ground meet to be browned are tacos, chilis, and sausage gravy. … Read more - Direct from Canada: the AT Banter Podcast
Recently, Chef Debra was a guest on AT Banter, a podcast where advocates and members of the disability community educate and inspire a better conversation about disability. The podcast is sponsored by Canadian Assistive Technology and hosted by Rob Mineault, Ryan Fleury, and Steve Barclay. This is a friendly, oftentimes humorous, and thoroughly enjoyable podcast … Read more - Using “Seeing AI” app to read bar codes
So many containers look and feel exactly alike: cans of soup, cereal boxes, spice bottles, and many more! There is a quick, free, and easy way to find out what the contents of a container are by reading its bar code. And you don’t need any vision to use it! Seeing AI You just need … Read more - Christine Ha
People often ask me if there are any other blind chefs in my network. And sadly, I know of no such association. I do, however, know of one blind cook that I do admire for several reasons: Christine Ha, winner of the 2012 Masterchef cooking contest. She is blind and competed with other talented sighted cooks while being … Read more - Chef Debra’s Acceptance Speech!
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) announces the 2023 winners of the Audio Description Project Awards. The ADP Awards honor the people and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the quality, availability, and understanding of audio description. Chef Debra Erickson received the award for Achievement in Audio Description Media/Individual from the ACB. Watch the … Read more
Thank you
Thank you for your interest in The Blind Kitchen. For many of us, preparing delicious, meaningful, and nutritious meals for friends and family is a type of “love language.” Vision loss should not be a barrier to cooking, regardless of your position on the blindness spectrum. Everyone has a place at the table in The Blind Kitchen!