The Blind Kitchen — Empowering
Vision-Impaired Cooks to Reclaim
Their Kitchens
Debra Erickson’s inspiring journey led her to create products that cater to the needs of blind and visually impaired cooks.
1 August 2024
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Debra Erickson founded The Blind Kitchen to caters to the needs of blind and visually impaired cooks, such as herself
Photo Credit: The Blind Kitchen
Founder of The Blind Kitchen, Debra Erickson’s inspiring journey led her to create a unique platform that caters to the needs of blind and visually impaired cooks. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease, Debra found her way to the Oregon Commission for the Blind, where she learned essential skills for living with vision impairment. Meal preparation classes propelled an interest to pursue professional culinary training at McClaskey Culinary Institute.
Debra returned to the Commission as a cooking instructor. Still, when the COVID-19 pandemic suspended her teaching role, she found a new way to continue her mission by curating essential kitchen tools tailored for blind cooks and creating instructional videos on kitchen tool safety.
This laid the foundation for The Blind Kitchen’s official launch in October 2022.
Now, The Blind Kitchen is not just a collection of adaptive tools but a beacon of hope for those who wish to maintain their passion for cooking despite their vision loss.
Tools of the Trade
Debra has proudly curated over 80 kitchen tools and collections that support not only vision-impaired cooks but also any home cook looking to simplify their activities and optimise safety in the kitchen. Online, The Blind Kitchen website offers an array of tools, such as an Auto Measure Spout that measures and pours a tablespoon of liquid and Bake-Under-the-Pie Servers for blind-friendly slicing of crusted pies. Adhesive Bump Dots allow easy labelling of containers while a ceramic Boil Alert Disk helps those who struggle to see boiling water by creating a rattling noise when the pot is boiling.
Debra demonstrates using the Corn Silk Remover Tool | Photo Credit: Edgar Garcia Chavez for The Blind Kitchen
Silicone Egg Rings enable vision-impaired cooks to safely track food in a hot pan, while Cut-Resistant Gloves and the Finger Guard protect against cuts. The stainless steel Avocado Tool de-seeds and scoops out avocados safely and cleanly. Customers can purchase products individually or through curated cooking collections. Prices begin at a very accessible US $2.99.
The Blind Kitchen is also an invaluable resource for tips on managing hot cooking and sharp tools safely. Its Library offers videos with audio descriptions, providing recommendations on kitchen organisation, food labelling, shopping, recipes, and home entertaining.
An Auto Measure Spout measures and pours one exact tablespoon | Photo Credit: Edgar Garcia Chavez for The Blind Kitchen
Crispy Walnut Custard | Photo: Chef Tam’s Seasons
Measuring Success: Beyond Sales
For Debra, success is measured not just in business terms but in the lives she touches. As a teacher, she takes pride in everyone’s achievement, knowing that her work helps others navigate this world more easily.
‘Emails from people whose identity was as the cook of the family…are perhaps the ones that bring tears to my eyes most often. They often say that they lost a part of themselves, their very identity, in addition to their ability to see. Many had no idea how they could return to cooking safely again. It is truly humbling to be able to have an impact in this very personal way.’ Says Debra.
The Future of The Blind Kitchen
As The Blind Kitchen continues to grow, Debra has set her sights on expanding its reach and offerings. The business moved its packaging and shipping operations to a commercial space — a significant milestone given the 90 tools currently in its catalogue.
Plans include more videos for The Blind Kitchen’s online library, including a series on “How to Teach Your Blind Child to Cook,” which will serve as a resource for parents of children with vision loss.
The Blind Kitchen tools are available online as are short instructional videos on product usage | Photo Credit: The Blind Kitchen
Debra envisions nurturing a community of blind and visually impaired cooks through cook-alongs, cooking contests, and other interactive events. An ultimate goal is to make The Blind Kitchen a connection hub for people who are passionate cooks, regardless of their vision. Through her work, Debra challenges stereotypes and proves that with the right tools and support, vision-impaired individuals can cook safely, confidently, and independently.
‘We are as unique and individual as any other human being, and our blindness is not our first and most important adjective. Seeing us as humans, instead of “a blind person” can lead to expressions of curiosity and ways that we can discover our commonalities instead of our differences,’ says Debra.
More than just a business, The Blind Kitchen now serves as a lifeline for those who refuse to let vision loss define them. Through adaptive tools, instructional videos, and a growing community, Debra Erickson is helping blind and visually impaired individuals rediscover their love for cooking and reclaim a crucial part of their identity.
Photos Credit: The Blind Kitchen
Author: Natasha Beh Comerford
With over 15 years of experience in the food and beverage industry specialising in restaurant public relations, marketing and content creation, Natasha Beh Comerford eats and breathes all things culinary. When she’s not discovering Singapore’s hidden gems, you’ll find her experimenting at her stove or kicking back with a good recipe book or two.
