An Update and Some Thoughts on Preparing for a Job

Hello, everyone. I hope this first, full month of  spring finds you well. Anita here with you today, and Spring has been a rather snowy and busy one here in WV. Goalball season has recently ended, and gives me a small break. Spring break has also allowed me a chance to rejuvenate for school, but I have been very busy at home.

My Mom, who lives in a nearby nursing home, came to spend the weekend with me. We played cards and fried potatoes. Ruth Ann, my cousin, stopped in to visit us as well. Then, Joy, my cousin came over to spend the night. Then, I went to her house to spend the night. While there I Took advantage of her WiFi and updated my iPhone. I  put Word Pro on my new MacBook, but at the moment, it is about to be thrown out the window. I couldn’t figure out how to save an article I wrote, though I did eventually succeed. So my brain is foggy just now.

During my break, my friend, Nancy, and I spent a day shopping at the mall. My bank account is way lower, but I have a couple of new bowls and a new kitchen gadget to play with. It is a rice cooker. I found a pasta rice cooker that is useful for all kinds of things a few months back, and I wanted another one. It is so frustrating when something I like disappears from the shelves at Walmart.

Anyhow, the point here is that I’ve been busy. Generally, I like to cook on vacation, but I haven’t had a lot of time for that. Currently, I have a hash brown casserole in the crockpot. When I was preparing it, I decided to add in bacon bits. I found a little bag that felt like the bacon bits. After opening it, I realized it was nuts. I had used Seeing AI, an app on my iPhone designed to tell me barcodes and read text, and while it couldn’t find the barcode, it did read something about almonds. I didn’t believe it because I don’t remember buying any almonds. I should have listened to it though because almonds they were. LOL

This blog post is really me ranting to you. I just wrote an article about "DUCKING INTO UEB", the book S. J. Wells and I wrote. In the article, I mentioned how I wanted to get a job like my sighted family members way back in the ’90’s. As blind people, obtaining a job is more difficult. It is important that we have the skills, training, and opportunity to do the job. Also, accessibility needs are important. Yes, the law requires that reasonable accommodations be made for us. But what does reasonable mean? And, it is a sighted world. A sighted person could apply for and potentially acquire a job in the local area easily enough, though it may be a minimum wage position. But a person who is blind requires accessibility to be included with the package.

I remember years ago in Parkersburg when I wanted to work at a call center. The software at the time was not accessible for screenreaders. Maybe nowadays, I could tackle the challenge of insuring such accommodations were met, but back then, I did not possess the knowledge or bravery. And, I’m glad I didn’t because working at a call center is not where I feel the Lord wants me to be. Still, I sometimes feel that a realistic job option be a consideration. What would I do if I was suddenly rifted from my current position as others have been? What skills and training would I need to acquire employment? Could I still live here in the town I consider as my home? Truth is that most people must relocate in order to be employed. But could their possibly be virtual jobs in the education field for me? Or, are there other career options I haven’t explored? I do not plan to leave my current position in the near future. But where will I be in ten years or so? If I want to make a career move, I need to plan now so I can be properly trained for the transition. And, if I decide to stay in this position forever, educating myself about other careers and even completing some of the training will not be a waste of my time. 

Part of my reason for bringing up this topic on this blog is because on one of my facebook lists, someone wanted to know what jobs are out there for blind people. There are not specific jobs for blind people. There are jobs in the field of blindness. There are companies that focus on hiring blind people, such as Industries for the Blind. But a person who is blind should really focus on their strengths and weakness and job interests. Filling out a job inventory is a great first step. Getting in touch with blind people in an interested field is also important, though not required. 

The ACB, www.acb.org and NFB, www.nfb.org both offer mentorship programs to people who are blind and visually impaired. AFB, www.afb.org also has Career Connect, a program that matches one with someone who has a job in the interested field. Finally, determining the accommodations is key. And, while the employer is required to make the reasonable accommodations, any accommodations we can make on our behalf will help to make us more successful candidates. Blindness skills training and training required for the specific career are also appropriate steps. Have fun searching! In the mean time, here is a link that will allow you to search virtual jobs. The site also allows you to search for jobs that require your physical presence. https://www.indeed.com/q-Virtual-jobs.html

That's it for today, but be sure and come back in 2 weeks for another edition of Interviews to Empower. Until then, be safe and remember to laugh often.

Interviews to Empower Presents Kerri Kosten

Welcome to Interviews to Empower! We’re so glad you came to be with us this week. Our interviewee this time is an inspiring individual who is totally blind, partially deaf and yet does not allow her fears and anxieties to dictate her day-to-day life. Come and meet Kerri Kosten, a sports writer who is blind.

Q: What caused your blindness?

A: I was born prematurely, so I have Retinopathy Of Prematurity.

Q: What about your partial deafness?

A: When I was very young, I became ill. My parents thought and were told it was the flu. However, it was Meningitis, and the high fever that I had left me partially deaf. I only have hearing in my left ear.

Q: I imagine that makes travel difficult, as people who are blind rely on their hearing a great deal. Can you tell us about that?

A: Yes. When I was at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, I was taught to mental map. Basically, I learn directions before I go and remember them so I can map my way back home. This was not taught to me until I received O&M at LCB. Also, I learned to call ahead to ask for bus fare, directions, availability of cabs and such. It is much safer to travel using transportation such as buses, cabs and even Uber, rather than walking, as I do not have to cross as many streets. Another thing to keep in mind is to ask for assistance often.

Q: Speaking of cane travel, when did you learn blindness skills?

A: I learned braille when I was four years old. Today, I can read about 200 words per minute. I didn’t learn good cane skills until I went to LCB.

Q: Did you go to a school for the blind or public school?

A: Both. I attended public school until fifth grade, then went to the WV School for the Blind for a few years. I actually graduated from University High in Morgantown, WV. As a younger student, I liked going to the blind school in Romney, WV. However, when I got older, the city girl in me missed the city. LOL

Q: So, what got you into the world of sports writing?

A: When I was fifteen, I listened to a basketball game on the radio. It was my first game, and I found I loved the energy of the game and announcers. After that, my passion for It grew. I was like a kid in a candy store, and I knew I wanted to do something in sports; I just didn’t know what. As far as writing, I didn’t like it, at first. However, I knew that as a blind person, writing about sports was something I needed to concentrate on. So, I majored in journalism at WVU. Then, I wrote for 1440 WAJR on their website. It was a volunteer position, but it taught me so much. I really enjoy putting stuff about sports into words, and I like that a person can do this job whether they can see or not.

Q: Are you still writing for WAJR?

A: No. Today, I write for The Dominion Post here in Morgantown. I research athletes who do not choose to go to WVU, then interview them. I really enjoy this job. It has helped me to get out of my comfort zone. At first, I was very nervous about talking to people I didn’t know. But, now I am more confident and comfortable when interviewing people. I feel that because of this job, I am more mature and patient. I wish all people who are blind could get this opportunity.

Q: You mentioned going to the Louisiana Center for the Blind. What types of classes did you take there?

A: Wow, I did so much, I could go on talking forever. :) It is a nine month program, so I was there from April of 2012 to January of 2013. I took cane travel, shop, computers, cooking, home maintenance, home management and braille.

Q: Wow, talk about a busy schedule. First, because we don’t often hear of blind people taking shop, tell me some of the things you learned in that class.

A: I learned how to use a lot of different tools including a drill press and a ban saw. My final project in that class was to make a set of braille blocks.

Q: How about home management and home maintenance?

A: In home maintenance we were taught things like how to clean, how to take off a door knob and put it back on, how to use a screw driver, how to turn a breaker box on and off, how to shut the water off at the valve of the toilet, how to unplug a toilet, and how to find something that may have fallen down a sink drain.

In home management we were taught how to cook. We made brownies from scratch, homemade pasta, fried chicken in a fry daddy, stir fry in a wok, homemade bread, hand cranked our ice cream, made waffles in a waffle iron…just everything. LOL At the end of the program, I had to make a meal for eight and another meal for forty. I had to write invitations on a slate and stylus, give out invitations, shop for food, cook food and serve the food like a waitress would. My meal for eight was chicken baked in the oven with Italian dressing, peas, green beans, baked potato and salad. For dessert I made a dump cake. My meal for forty was pasta with garlic and herb sauce.

Q: Let’s talk about cane travel and some of the trips you took.

A: Well, we certainly got out and about. We went to a Louisiana Tech game. Then, a friend and I went to Oklahoma to watch the Sooners against the Baylor Bears. We had to plan our trip and figure out bus fare and everything. It was an amazing trip, and both my friend and I are blind. No one sighted went with us. Other activities at LCB were rock climbing, horseback riding, zip lining, trips to the movies, the peach festival and shopping. My last trip was a solo trip from Ruston to Monroe. I went shopping at the mall in Monroe.

Q: What advice would you give to someone new to sight loss?

A: Never give up. Blindness is not the end of the world. Get good blindness training. You can still do all the things you used to, just in a different way.

Q: What would you say to a student who is blind who is just graduating high school?

A: Try to meet as many people as you can. Learn to network. Don’t give up. Get involved with those things you are interested in. Don’t allow anyone to tell you “you can’t”.

Q: Is there someone you look up to?

A: Yes. My O&M instructor at LCB. His name was Roland Allen, and he paved the way for blind O&M instructors. He believed I could do anything, and therefore, I believe I can do anything.

Kerri, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. Just talking with you inspires me.

To read Kerri’s pieces, you can find them in The Dominion Post www.dominionpost.com

Thank you, faithful readers for being with us today. We apologize that this post is late. But, we will be back on Nov. 9 with more inspiration, so come back and be with us. Want to see us on Facebook? We can be found at facebook.com/adkinsandwells.

Blessings.

Interviews to Empower Presents Robin Ayers

Hello and welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower. We’re so glad you are with us today. This month’s interviewee worked at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind for thirty years. Her advice is applicable whether you have a disability or not, and her experiences will give you a smile and encourage you to keep going. Come with us as we introduce to you, Mrs. Robin Ayers.

Q: What made you decide to work with students who are blind or visually impaired?

A: A position came open, and I was the only one on campus who could fill it. I was asked/talked into taking it.

Q: Some folks give strange looks when we say “Home EC”. Did they call it that when you were the teacher?

A: By the time I took the position in 2000, the name had changed to Family and Consumer Sciences.

Q: What changes did you notice over the years in what types of things you taught?

A: The basics of clothing construction and meal prep became less the focus as more emphasis was placed on nutrition, family management, and careers. Essentially, the focus seemed to shift from teaching mostly in-home tasks to including more outside the home needs. 

Q: What were some of the challenges of teaching children who could not see like you?

A: 1. Remembering to walk in each student's shoes to determine his/her needs and how to teach them

2. Placing enough labels in Braille around the classroom

3. Giving directions more accurately. For example, telling someone that something is to "the right of the doorway" rather than "over there" 

Q: What were some high points during your time at the school for the blind?

A: Omigoodness. Senior dinners prepared by the kids for their selected guests, Preparation for the Superintendent's Tea/Open House, which started in November, successful meals prepared and served by ProStart students, a totally blind student learning to use a paring knife safely, another student trying to bake his pizza upside down on the oven rack, construction of individual pillows sewn by hand, production of nutritious goodies to stock the school store

Q: What advice would you give to new teachers of the visually impaired just coming out of college?

A: Get to know your students well. Craft your lessons meet their individual needs as much as possible. Focus on what the CAN do rather than what they CANT do, and focus on those strengths.

Q: What advice would you give to parents or caregivers of children who are blind concerning home economics or daily living skills?

A: They should be expected to take care of their own needs just like any other kid. Just adapt the environment so it makes that possible. This old thing of "if she just sits in the chair all day and behaves herself is all that's expected" is bullhockey! Parents doing everything for the child just doesn't cut it. Those parents will not likely be around forever and that child, who is then an adult, better be able to fend for himself! One of my biggest fears was that some situation would occur where the parents couldn't get to the kid, like a flood or snowstorm, and the child would just sit there and starve to death!

Q: Finally, what advice would you give to students today?

A: Learn to do as much as possible for yourself. People aren't always going to be around to help you. 

Robin, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. We truly enjoyed reading your answers. And, thank you, faithful readers for being with us today. Remember, we’re still on Facebook, so come over to facebook.com/adkinsandwells/ and join the discussion.

Note: Beginning today, Sept. 28, 2017, we will no longer be posting once a week. Instead, we will be posting entries on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month. If you have a question you would like us to address, contact us via the blog or send an email to adkinsandwells@gmail.com and put “question” in the subject line. If you know of an individual that you would like us to interview, someone who will encourage those of us who are blind or visually impaired, let us know. As always, be encouraged to try new things and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Have a fantastic weekend, and we’ll see you back here on Oct. 12.

Blessings.

Be an Overcomer

Hello. Anita here, and this week we’re going to talk about challenges and overcoming them.

Recently, I have become a new foster mom. It has been a challenging and rewarding experience. I have learned that being a mom involves way more than just watching the child. I have already made so many phone calls and accompanied the child to an appointment. Due to confidentiality, I will not share with you any details about the child in this blog. But, I do want to tell you about the key challenges and how I have overcome them as a blind person.

One challenge is dealing with the misconceptions about the capabilities of the blind. And, I will not share a lot about that on this blog for privacy reasons. But I will say that the social worker and my home finder have done an excellent job at holding high expectations for the blind. They have entrusted me to care for a very special child. They are not the ones who have presented this challenge. However, as a caregiver, I need and want to know their concerns. I told the social worker to feel free to ask me any questions. I am an educator, and I do want what is best for the child. One of their concerns was that the child tends to be active and run a lot. When the social worker expressed this to me, I explained that I had locks on my doors that can only be opened with a key. This assured her the child would be safe with me. I also talked with her about other ways I will keep the child safe, including using a bear that she wears like a backpack. It has a leash, which I put on my wrist. At church and other places out of my house, it will keep her from running away from me.

What they did not tell me was that the child takes a great deal of medication, and more importantly, that it requires two people to ensure she takes the medicine—one to administer it and the other to hold her hands so she does not grab the syringe or push away the person trying to give her the medicine. If they had told me this before I accepted her, I would have told them to find another placement for her because I live alone. Fortunately, my pastor, his fiancee, and my cousins are assisting me with this. The social worker is exploring other options, as well.

Even though this challenge is not related to blindness, I wanted to share it with you because it is important that, as blind people, we know our strengths and weaknesses. We need to know when to take on a challenge and when to say no. Really, this is the case, regardless of vision. Knowing who we are and our talents and strengths will enable us to be productive and will also enable us and others to stay safe. If we lack confidence or feel we are incapable, we should consult others in the blindness community for their input on how we can do a task we really want to do. It is probably possible, but blindness training may be necessary before we can accomplish it. Our other option is to teach ourselves, which I love to do. But, be sure safety factors are considered and adhered to before self-discovery occurs.

To give an example, my brother and I taught ourselves many years ago how to walk to a nearby college. One of us would wait at a point while the other walked further and explored. If someone were injured, the other person would be able to call for help. Also, this helped us to always find our way back to the apartment we lived in at the time. Experimenting with techniques and tricks we think of is a great way to conquer new skills. But, accepting our limitations is also important. Considering other factors that require a "no" answer to performing an activity is important, too. Here are some questions to help you determine if you should try an activity and conquer barriers related to your blindness.

1. Why do I want to do this activity? If the answer is to help others, because I would enjoy it,  or because it is necessary, then you should probably figure out a way to do it. If the answer is pride, you may still be able to conquer the challenge, but be careful. Pride alone should not impact your decision.

2. Do I have the skills to accomplish this goal? If not, then conduct some research to learn how and where you can get the necessary training. It might be a blindness training center, like the one at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland or the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Or, it might be a week-long visit to a blindness rehabilitation training center in your state. Or, maybe it is an online tutorial or a friend or family member that can give you some pointers and walk you through the steps of a given task. Most important, be informed and weigh your options so you can select the best one.

3. Finally, is fear keeping you from conquering the challenge? If so, then you will need to build confidence. Confidence is built in small steps. A training center can help with this, but, consistently doing things for yourself will be the most beneficial.

You might also think about how to start an activity. For example, before using the table saw, I asked my instructor to turn it off and unplug it. This way, I knew I could explore it without it turning on. After that, I felt more comfortable in using it because I had a mental picture  of what it looked like. Learning other prevention steps and safety techniques is also important. For example, I lacked confidence in frying foods. For safety, I asked a friend and some family members to be with me in the kitchen and to show me how much grease to pour in when frying potatoes. I received a little experience and built confidence with this in a training center, as well  and then more after practicing at home. I also found online safety tips.

So, what challenges are you facing? What are you going to do to overcome the ones that matter to you? Yes, with determination and the right tools and techniques, you can do it!!! Have fun trying!

Have any examples to share about overcoming challenges? Drop us a comment below. We’d love to hear your story.

Beginning in October, this blog will be changing to a twice a month blog, rather than once a week. With school starting back and with both of us busy with new projects this year, we want to concentrate our efforts on bringing you informative posts that will help and encourage. We feel the best way to do this is to post only twice a month. Until then, though, we’ll be right here, posting every Thursday.

And, speaking of every Thursday, be sure and come back next week for another edition of Interviews to Empower. We have an interview all ready for you. Until then, have a fantabulous weekend, and hop on over to facebook.com/adkinsandwells/ and “like” our page.

Blessings.

Interviews to Empower Presents Connie Newhouse

Hello, and welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower. So far we have been introducing to you people who are blind and/or visually impaired who live “normal” lives, doing “normal” jobs and who aren’t afraid to try new things. This month, we would like to introduce you to one of these educators who made this possible, Connie New house, a former teacher at the West Virginia School for the Blind.

Q: So, Connie, how many years did you teach Home Economics?

A: I taught home ec about 25 years; also spent some time teaching Braille, English and math as the needs of the students and schedule were addressed.  After that time I was the principal at WVSB until 2007 when I retired, and then went back to sub for four more years.  Altogether I spent 40 years at the school.

Q: Why did you decide to teach children who are blind?

A: I wish I had a wonderful story of my life dream to teach blind kids, but the truth is that I was looking for a job and the school was looking for a teacher.  However, now I cannot imagine doing anything else.

Q: Why Home Ec?

A: Home Ec has always been my favorite area.  Kids can't succeed in any area of life without good life skills.  You might be a great computer programmer/writer/gardener/business owner but if you can't get up in the morning, get your breakfast, manage your wardrobe, care for your home, take care of your children, pay your bills, work as a team, and so on, it will be difficult for you to be a success. 

 I was drawn to home ec because it teaches skills that really matter - no matter your station in life.  We always told students that they might be able to name every state capitol but if they can't tie their shoes/fix their cereal/pack their lunch/ do their laundry/etc, they will have a difficult time being successful.

This area of teaching always meant a lot to me because I felt like we really connected with students, became friends, and loved hearing about their lives when they left Romney.

Q: What were some of the challenges of teaching children who could not see like you?

A: Students showed up for class, often with absolutely no knowledge or skills in the kitchen.  We had to start from the ground up with identification of equipment and materials, safety, and learning your way around the kitchen.  We laughed and cried and learned together.  We practiced and practiced and practiced until we could do it.  We learned together.

Q: What was your favorite part of the job?

A: When some students came to home ec or Daily Living Skills (DLS) class for the first time, they literally could not fix themselves a glass of ice water.  Many thought sandwiches all came pre made from the grocery; that cereal was just in the bowl with milk. 

 Many had been told that they could not cook/sew/clean/tend to their personal needs/have children because they were blind.  Seeing the "light go on" for those students made that my million dollar job!

Q: What were some of the changes in methods or technologies that you noticed over the years?

A: The obvious changes would be technology; we don't need a recipe book if we keep items on our phone. Learning to use a microwave is often faster and more efficient.  More foods come prepackaged.  People usually don't make their own clothes or can their own food.

Q: If you could give any advice to parents/care givers of students who are blind concerning home economics or daily living skills, what would it be?

A: Advice to parents of blind kids...the same as advice to parents of sighted kids...let them get in the kitchen, get dirty, make mistakes, laugh, try and have fun!  

Q: What advice would you give to students today?

A: I'm so sorry that the home ec/DLS classes at WVSB have been eliminated.  Even with caring house parents, there  is simply not enough time, or specialized skill training, to provide students with all the important life skills.

For instance...start every cooking project with a sink full of hot soapy water (put dishes in as you go and they're clean when you finish); work over a cookie sheet on the counter to catch spills, buy plates with a design that goes all the way around the plate so your table always looks pretty; use Elmer's glue to mark ranges, microwaves, laundry equipment, etc; put bacon in the oven to brown; when needing to add water to cooking meat or other food, use an ice cube to help avoid splattering; use parchment paper for ease of clean up; remember our motto  of "clutter causes chaos" so clear your kitchen drawers of unused equipment; pin matching socks/baby outfits/etc together before laundry so matching is no problem....and the list goes on and on.

Connie, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us today, and thank you, faithful readers for being here, too. We would love it if you would leave us a comment. Let us know what you think. Until next time, get in that kitchen and get messy. :)

Blessings.

Baking Blind

Happy Thursday, and welcome to our blog. S. J. Wells here with you today. A couple of weeks ago, Anita led the discussion on flipping foods. Today, I’m going to talk about baking. Yep, you heard that right’ people who are blind and visually impaired can and do bake. Bread, cakes, cookies and whatever else we can come up with. Come along with me, and let’s see what’s cooking in the oven today. :)

In high school I took home economics. My teacher taught me to boil macaroni, mix up a meatloaf, oven fry chicken, how to put on a pot of beef stew and how to mix up a pan of cornbread. But, my favorite was learning how to bake and ice a cake. My first one was orange flavored with orange flavored icing. Just a simple box of cake mix and a few ingredients later, I was dusted with powdered sugar, yet ready to take my creation to a local Bible study I was part of. My second cake was white with white icing, and I baked it as part of my final test in that class.

In 2003 I became friends with a woman who made homemade bread. She offered a class on it at our church, and I went to it. She let me feel her dough at each stage, and at the end, we got to eat our creations. Excited to try this new skill, I cleared off my kitchen table one summer day, put my toddler in a walker and began pouring out ingredients. Warm water, dry yeast, sugar and salt. I stirred then measured in the flour. I plunged my clean hands into this mess and started to knead. A few minutes of hard work went by, and I thought I had made a big mistake. Yet, I was already a mess, the toddler was joyfully emptying my towel drawer, so I either had to keep going or give up and quit. I kept going, and several minutes later that mess came together into a stretchy, silky-smooth lump. I placed it in an oiled bowl, oiled the top, covered it and set it aside to rise. An hour later, I punched it down, separated it into 3 loaves and placed it on a baking sheet. I preheated my oven to 350, spritzed my loaves with water and put them in the oven. Seriously, about 20 some minutes later, I pulled out brown loaves of bread that were almost perfect. So thankful I didn’t give up.

Fast forward several years to 2011. My grandmother passed away that February, and finding it helped if I was busy, I determined to learn to bake cookies. I had a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old and a husband who loves chocolate, so I had plenty of taste testers. I copied down a few simple recipes and went to work. I also began setting aside box cake mixes and trying from scratch. To my surprise, some people even began paying me for cookies.

Now, it’s 2017, and I find myself wondering what types of advice would I give to a person who is blind who wants to venture into baking. At the moment, I’m contemplating baking a batch of cookies to take to my in-law’s this weekend. My first approach, just as it would be if I could see is to find a recipe, preferably something we all like. Several of my recipes are saved on my Mac book’s hard drive, but if I want something new, I search the internet. When the recipe I want is sitting before me, I read over it to see if I have all the ingredients. Next, I get out what I will need and follow the directions on that recipe. A few minutes later, I’ll have dessert. But, what if it isn’t that simple?

Here are some tips

Cookies

1. Keep your hands clean and use them more than spoons for mixing, especially when the batter or dough is too stiff to stir.
2. When using a hand mixer, keep fingers out of the bowl and trust your sense of hearing. Also, think of how the mixer feels in your hand. You can tell after much practice  if your batter is mixed well, depending on how the beaters sound and how the mixer feels.
3. Sometimes, it is best to crack eggs into a separate bowl before adding to your batter. This way you can check to make sure egg shells do not get into your cookie dough. I have also cracked them into a glass and used a fork to beat them. A glass or cup has taller sides, and it is less likely for your eggs to splash out as you beat them.
4. Keep track where your plugged in mixer is at all times. Unplug it from the outlet and put the beaters in the sink as soon as you are finished with it.
5. Keep a sink of soapy, hot water so  you can wash as you go.
6. You can either use a measuring spoon or your hands to place cookies on the cookie sheets. A spoon helps you learn what size you need, but when I use my hands to roll them into balls, they turn out prettier. If you roll them with your hands, press your fingers down onto them very lightly after you place them on the pan so they don’t roll off.
7. Always use oven mitts, and bake a test cookie before placing an entire pan of cookies into the oven. Recipes are general, and you might have a different oven than the recipe maker. Different altitudes have an effect on bake times and temperatures, too, so test one cookie before proceeding with the entire batch. Also, if your baking time is different then the recipe, be sure and write it down, so you will know next time.

Bread

1. If you don’t have a talking food thermometer, test the temperature of your water with your fingers. If it feels too hot to touch, then it will kill your yeast. Yeast is a living organism, and extreme heat as well as extreme cold can kill it. Also, keep yeast out of your deep freezer and your mouth. When your water feels like warm bath water, go for it.
2. Add your yeast to the water and tilt your bowl slightly to swirl the water. Your nose will tell you if your yeast is coming to life. If you are using quick yeast, you can skip this step. That quick stuff is mighty quick. LOL
3. Follow your recipe, here, too. I mix flour in a cup at a time. Usually, when my spoon has difficulty stirring, I lay it aside and plunge my clean hands in there. I do a lot of mixing by hand way before it ever makes it to a floured board for kneading.
4. Spread a little flour on your board, place your lump of dough on to it, and get your hands in there. Push down, spread out, gather together, turn it over, press down and… Keep on working. It will start coming together, if you have followed the directions. Sometimes, you will need to add a little more flour if it is too wet or a little more water if it is too dry. You will know by the way it feels, what it needs. Too wet, it will stick to you and the board. Too dry, it will come apart. Keep working until sweat gathers on your brow and you think you can’t do it anymore. LOL
5. When it holds together and feels silky-smooth, you’re probably ready to put it in the oiled bowl to let rise. After rising, follow your directions. Make sure your oven is preheated, use oven mitts and bake it. Done bread will have that hollow sound when tapped, that you have always heard about.

A note on measuring spoons and measuring cups. I use normal ones bought at Walmart. I keep them together on the little ring, and that way I know which one is which. However, you can buy ones marked in braille from www.blindmicemart.com. Anita has a set of these, and I like them. I've just never had the money to buy them.

I could talk about a lot more than bread and cookies, but these are the basics. Whether you use a prepared mix or start from scratch, take your time, trust your nose and your sense of touch and your sense of taste. If it doesn’t work out the first, second, third or fourth time, keep trying. If you don’t know whether you can trust yourself or not, keep working, write down what you experience and learn from it. The key to baking and everything else in life is don’t give up.

We hope you have enjoyed today’s talk on baking. Questions? Drop us a comment below. We would love to hear from you. Also, we’re on Facebook, so come on over to facebook.com/adkinsandwells/ and like our page for updates and encouragement.

Blessings.

Flipping Foods

Welcome to the blog. Anita here with you. In some future posts, we plan to discuss a few kitchen techniques, but today, we’re talking about flipping foods. Remember, there is often more than one way to accomplish a task. The key is to first consider safety and then to consider how to accomplish it efficiently and effectively. Also, you might want to gather ideas from many sources and to modify techniques to suit your needs. Again, please remember that we are only providing you with how we do things and are not trying to tell you how you have to do them. We are only sharing our knowledge, and we are not responsible for any misinformation or injury resulting from anything we write in this, or any, past or future posts.

Now, let's focus on flipping foods using non-visual techniques. You should read this entire blog post before following its directions, and you should also do this with other recipes or directions for doing other things. Flipping is sometimes scary when you can't see, especially if grease is involved. Like with learning any new skill, start with what you know and at a beginner level. Since I cannot assess you, I shall start from the beginning. First, you need a recipe, which you can obtain from a family member or friend. Or, you can search for a recipe online. I recommend a cookbook or an online recipe because it will give you exact amounts whereas someone else might be more general, for example, say a chunk of cheese, which isn't always as helpful. You can always experiment with a recipe after you become comfortable with doing this. Try something simple, like grilled cheese.

To make grilled cheese, first gather your ingredients and the things you will use for preparation and cooking. You need butter, sandwich bread, and a slice or two of cheese. You also need a paper towel or plate, a butter knife (I prefer a spoon.), a spatula, a skillet, and a clean surface. You will want to preheat your skillet on medium heat. Place a slice of the bread on the paper towel or plate. Then, spread soft butter on one side of it; laying out your butter ahead of time will soften it. Always wash your hands before cooking. Remember safety rules, in this case, always make sure the handle of your knife is toward you and the blade is away from you, regardless of whether you are spreading or placing the knife on the counter. Newer cooks will want to touch food in order to check accuracy or to see if it is finished cooking. For example, if you use a fork to spear a potato and then lift it out of the pot, you can touch it to see if it is done. Likewise, in today's example, you can try spreading the butter without touching it, and then use your fingers to check your work. Next, place the slice of bread with the buttered side down on the paper towel or plate. Now, place the cheese on top, making sure you arrange it so the two slices of cheese cover the entire surface of the bread as much as possible. Then, butter one side of the other slice of bread and place it, butterside up, atop the cheese. To see if the skillet is hot enough, place a tiny amount of water in a measuring cup. Dip your finger into it and then fling some of the droplets from your finger into the pan, (not your finger, the water.) :) If you hear a sizzling sound, the skillet is ready for your bread. Flipping time will be two to three minutes after you place the bread in your skillet, and so check it in two minutes. By the way, food.com tells you to butter the top slice of bread while the bottom slice is browning, but as a newer cook, this might be more challenging for you. Anyhow, when you slide your spatula beneath the bread, it will feel bumpy and make a different sound if it is ready to flip. Also, your sandwich will move around in the bottom of the skillet easier when it is ready to flip. If it does not move easy, you might wait a few more seconds to allow it to finish browning on that side. To flip it, first use the backside of the spatula to locate the sandwich. Then, slide the spatula toward you until it is touching the skillet on the side of the sandwich closest to you. With the edge of the spatula pointed toward the bottom of the skillet with its backside lowering toward the bottom of the pan as it slides, slide the spatula toward and then beneath the sandwich. To make it easier, keep sliding until you feel comfortable the sandwich is on the spatula or until you bump up against the backside of the skillet. Then, lift the spatula up so that it is slightly above the height of the top edge of the skillet. Then, move the spatula toward either the left or right edge of the skillet the flick your wrist to flip the sandwich off the spatula and toward the center of the skillet. You should do this flicking motion quickly. Your palm starts out facing the ceiling, and ends up facing the bottom of the skillet. Remember, this is approximate, and so do not get all hung up on worrying about if your palm is exactly parallel to the ceiling or the skillet. To get back to the direction in which you should flip, if you went toward the left edge of the skillet, you will flip right. If you went toward the right edge, you will flip left. To see if you were successful, use the backside of your spatula to locate the sandwich and then slide it gently over its top. If this side feels bumpy and sounds right, then congratulations; otherwise, try again. By the way, a double spatula can also be another way to flip bread because one side of the double spatula slides beneath the bread and the other side slides atop the sandwich. Then, you won't be as likely to loose the sandwich off of your spatula. I prefer this when I first started cooking, but now, I prefer the first way described here. Shannon feels more comfortable with the double spatula, though.

Before trying this recipe, you might want to practice in a cold skillet. First, make some toast in the toaster. In a clean skillet, spread just enough butter to coat the bottom. Place your already done slice of toast in the skillet. In this way, you can feel the texture and hear the sound that indicates  it is time to flip over your grilled cheese, but you can practice flipping and feeling and listening with no heat. Note I am not referring to listening to a cooking sound, but the sound your spatula makes when it scrapes across a regular slice of bread vs. a slice of toast. Then, you can still eat the toast. Cats eat their prey after they play with it, after all. :) Did we ever tell you I have two cats, Whiskers  Elizabeth and Tiger Lee?

Now, go ahead and try your hand at making grilled cheese as described in this blog post. Remember to take your grilled cheese out of the pan after the other side has its turn of two to three minutes cooking time. :)

For a cleaner version of the recipe, check out the recipe on food.com.

We hope you have enjoyed this post about flipping foods. We also hope you have learned something and are excited about trying out this new skill. Have fun, but remember to be safe. Have a great weekend, and be sure to come back next Thursday.

Blessings.

Accessible Appliances

Welcome. We're so glad you could join us today. This week's post was written by Anita, and her topic will awaken your adventurous spirit and make your tummy grumble . :) That's right; we're talking about kitchen appliances.

Summer is upon us. Usually, summer is when I do a lot of cooking since I am a teacher and have more free time now than I do during the school year. About a week ago, I purchased an electric skillet to add to my kitchen  collection. What I like about it, aside from the fact it only costed around $30, is that it is very big. They had smaller ones, but as a blind cook, I like things bigger and deeper. It is deep enough, but not as deep as I thought it would be. Anyway,  I also like the fact that I do not have to worry about it moving as I am frying my potatoes like I do my skillet on the stove. My house is older, and some of the floors in it are slightly inclined, meaning my stove was at an incline, and so things wanted to slide toward the front of my stove. Recently, a family member made an attempt at leveling my stove using some sort of board, and so now at least things are more likely to slide toward the back instead of the front. Anyhow, the counter beside the stove is level, meaning my new skillet does not move when I use it. When purchasing this appliance, I made sure it did not have a digital display. I placed a bump dot on its dial so I could mark the temperature I like for my potatoes. What I like about using the stove or the electric skillet is that even when I don't mark them, I can use the rate at which food is cooking to confidently set my temperature whereas the oven, while it can be done in this way to an extent, is best made accessible through labeling.

Aside from my electric skillet, I also have an air fryer, which I likely have mentioned before. It is a healthier choice because grease does not need to be added to most foods, and when it is, only a small amount of grease is required. Also, it is safer since the shell and basket slide completely inside the unit and the machine does not begin working until the unit locks into place; consequently, grease cannot splatter on the cook, and newer cooks can feel more confident at using it.

In addition to the electric skillet and air fryer, I  have a rice cooker, which, it turns out, is  a pasta cooker, as well. I am not a big fan of rice, but I wanted to use this to steam vegetables. I bought it when I purchased the electric skillet. I also made sure it does not have a digital display; they had one that did. Mine has six buttons shaped kind of like a braille cell lying on its side. The top row of buttons are for cooking pasta and the bottom three are for rice. When you push the button, it cooks for a given amount of time. I will ask a friend or family member which setting might be best for my cooked vegetables. It has other tactile markings, a 1 cup and a 1/2 cup are raised and easy to feel. Very accessible.  Years ago, I used a rice cooker that had a basket with it. I put water under the basket and placed the vegetables inside the basket. In my new rice cooker, there is no basket. I did not realize this until I brought it home, but I shall experiment with it. Also, its middle pasta setting should cook macaroni good for macaroni and cheese since it is a ten-minute set time.

My microwave is also a useful kitchen tool for me. There are microwaves that are talking, like the one at Blind Mice Mart, but I simply use bump dots to label the one I purchased at Walmart a while back. I also have a toaster, a coffee pot used by Shannon, AKA S. J. Wells during her visits since I don't drink coffee and am too lazy to make tea in it, and a hotdog maker that I got at some sort of yard sale and never use. I have several crockpots that I do use quite often. One thing to realize about a crockpot is that there is a crockpot which cooks faster, but there is also a slow cooker, which cooks slower. Both units have settings for low, medium, and high, but the difference between the two is the crockpot will get a meal done in four hours on low whereas a slow cooker will get it done in eight. Therefore, those of you like me who want to allow your food to cook for long periods unattended will want the slow cooker model. 

So, as you can see, I have many different kitchen appliances, not all listed in this post. We are all unique, and so we don't all have to have the same ones. But some help us to eat healthier, and some help us to just enjoy food. Some help us to build cooking skills as blind cooks more easily than others, but many can be' or are already, accessible to the totally blind cook. If you are a new cook, but you do not have access to someone who can directly teach you non-visual cooking techniques, start by learning safety tips, such as keep handles turned toward the center of the stove, know how to store foods, etc. Also, you might want to start with the toaster, microwave and air fryer appliances since they are probably the units that are the easiest to work with. SHANNON and I do not accept any responsibility for any injuries or damages to anyone or any property due to anything written on these posts. Sometimes experimenting is the way to build skill, whether it be cooking or any skill. And remember, with summer upon us, learning to prepare salads and drinks can be a great way to start your kitchen adventures. Lots of practice will build your confidence and skill level in the kitchen.

By the way, like everyone else, blind people have all different interests. So while we do intend to teach and discuss issues related to blindness on this blog, sometimes, we may share our other interests as well. For example, I love reading, writing, and exploring. So don't be surprised if you read a post, and wonder: "What does this have to do with blindness?"

And now, put down your technology so you can go dig out that swimsuit. :) Have a great summer, but please remember to stop by each week to visit us here at the blog. Next week's post is another edition of Interviews to Empower. The gentleman we will be featuring is someone you won't want to miss.

Be blessed.