July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.
The ADA defines a disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” According to the most recent data from the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability. This includes physical disabilities such as mobility impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and speech impairments as well as mental disabilities such as intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, and mental illness.
It’s important to keep in mind that while some disabilities may be invisible – mental illness, learning disabilities, and chronic pain, for example, they can nonetheless significantly impact a person’s life.
At Sticky Fingers Cooking, we’re driven by our dedication to make our programs accessible to all, so that everyone can experience the joy of cooking! We aim not only to teach children valuable cooking skills, but also to promote safety, boost confidence, and foster independence in the kitchen–regardless of ability. We firmly believe that every child, regardless of their individual capabilities, should have the opportunity to cook and enjoy food. That’s why we enthusiastically collaborate with families during the registration process to make necessary accommodations for specific needs. And it’s why we have had the pleasure of cooking with children who have a wide range of bodily and cognitive abilities, including wheelchair users, kids who are blind or deaf, children with mobility/physical disabilities and limb differences, as well as kids experiencing chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and celiac disease, and children undergoing food therapy. Every Sticky Fingers Cooking class uses recipes that were designed to avoid the most common food allergies.
For ideas on making your kitchen more accessible, check out this blog post
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