Top 12 Kitchen Items If You Have Low Vision or Are Blind

by Ken Dockter
NDVS/SB Adult Program Coordinator

1. A timer. This could be a talking timer, a tactual timer, a smartphone, a large print timer, an Alexa, or a Google home. (“Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes.”)
2. Long oven mitts. These prevent burning of the hands and forearms as a person is placing items in or taking items out of the oven.
3. A variety of sharp knives for different tasks in the kitchen
4. Good kitchen scissors for opening packages, cutting food, etc. Sometimes using a scissors is easier and more convenient than using a knife (or your teeth!).
5. Tactual or high contrast labels on appliances. These will help you continue to be independent and safe while using them. For example, you can mark the start button on a microwave, where 350 is on an oven, or where medium is on a stove.
6. A set of measuring cups and measuring spoons that are labeled in a manner that you can easily identify their sizes. For example, put 1 dot of fabric paint on the one cup measurement, 2 dots on the half cup, 3 dots on the third of a cup, and 4 dots on the fourth of a cup. This can be done with measuring spoons as well.
7. A good set of bent measuring spoons. When they are bent, you can more easily ladle out liquid rather than pouring them to measure.    
8. A system of labeling food items in the kitchen. This could be braille, or PenFriend labels, or simply using large print writing on the label.
9. Recipes in an accessible format. Have them available in large print or braille or recorded in an audio format.  
10. High contrast cutting boards. Using these will help you see the item you are cutting easier. For example, use a black cutting board when chopping an onion and a white cutting board for carrots and green peppers.
11. High contrast mixing bowls. Using these will help you see the items in the bowl as you are mixing up a recipe. If you know a recipe will be a light color, use a dark bowl. If you are making a chocolate cake or something darker, use a light-colored bowl.
12. And the last item – and the most important – is having low vision or blind techniques that you have learned to help you stay safe and independent in the kitchen.  

If you have questions about techniques in the kitchen, please call Pam Haus at (701) 330-8127 on the east side of North Dakota and Amy Osvold at (701) 340-9226 on the west side.