Cooking Classes for Adults with Disability

Interaction Disability Services ordered chopsticks from Good360 to support adults with intellectual disability to learn new cooking skills. Interaction hosts regular activities for our participants with intellectual disability across various topics to encourage community connection and capacity building. In this case, thanks to the chopsticks ordered from Good360, we were able to hold a cooking class where participants were supported by staff to follow a recipe and create a new meal they had not tried before. In our experience, being able to offer activities such as this to our participants has a significant impact on each individual's overall mental health and well-being. By providing an opportunity for participants to come together and try out something new with a common goal, they are empowered to be able to transfer their new skills into their everyday lives. Building connections between staff and other participants is another positive that comes out of these sessions. In particular, cooking classes have proven particularly successful for our participants with intellectual disability. These classes give our participants an accessible, mindfulness-based, sensory activity that promotes mental well-being and interpersonal relationships. Cooking lessons are especially effective as they can be shared by participants with their housemates or families, illustrating the benefits this project had for Interaction.