Design and evaluation of a kitchen for persons with visual impairments

• Main Authors: Benjamas Kutintara, Pornpun Somboon, Virajada Buasri, Metinee Srettananurak, Piyanooch Jedeeyod, Veraya Iam-Cham, Kittikan Pornpatoom
• Other Authors: King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Medicine
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/29386
• Institution: Mahidol University

Visually impaired people need skills on daily living, such as cooking, and Ratchasuda College offers independent living training for them. In order to fulfill their needs, a suitable kitchen should be designed with the consideration of their limitations. The objective of this study was to design and evaluate a kitchen for persons with visual impairments. Before designing the kitchen, interviews and an observation were carried out to obtain information on the needs of blind and low vision persons. Consequently, a kitchen model was developed, and it was evaluated by 10 persons with visual impairments. After the design improvement, the kitchen was built and has been routinely used for training persons with visual impairments to prepare meals. Finally, a post-occupancy evaluation of the kitchen was conducted by observing and interviewing both trainers and those with visual impairments during the food preparation training. The results of the study indicated that kitchens for persons with visual impairments should have safety and usability features. The results of the post-occupancy evaluation showed that those who attended cooking courses were able to cook safely in the kitchen. However, the kitchen still had limitations in some features. © 2010 START Centre. All rights reserved. © 2010 START Centre.