Adaptive Kitchen Skills, also known as AKS or Cooking Class, is an essential area for anyone expecting to live independently or even just help out at home. In our modern double kitchen, students are introduced to adaptive techniques and equipment and learn how to prepare meals, clean up and organize their kitchens at home. Students have the opportunity to learn how to safely operate gas and electric ranges and ovens, microwave ovens, toaster ovens, small electric grills, and other devices and equipment.

Our creative instructors evaluate students’ current functional skill levels and then assist students in reaching higher levels of food preparation and kitchen maintenance. From simple cold meals to complex three-course dinners, our instructors help students learn to cook the foods they enjoy, thanks to a wealth of recipe resources, including cookbooks in standard, large print, Braille, and tape-recorded formats, as well as resources online. Whether students have a special diet, enjoy specific types of foods, or just want to learn to make their traditional family favorites, they’re usually surprised at the things they can make at the center, and more importantly, at home.

The center also features a smaller, more limited training kitchen where special-needs students who will be living in more restrictive environments learn to prepare simple cold meals, snacks, and microwavable foods.