Menu/Recipe Books Fot IT Users With Additional Needs

IT groups with special or additional needs have successfully compiled a menu/recipe book. The idea was to create a useable tool that members could make use of in their own care homes or day centres. We wanted an IT project that was flexible to the variety, and range, of the user’s capabilities. We asked each group member to create a favourite recipe for the book. The menus chosen were to be simple, easy to follow, and suitable for all people, regardless of their literacy skills. The menus would consist of breakfast, soups, main meals, puddings and cakes. Participants were then able to construct the recipes in a way that would correspond to their skill levels. Some, who where able to type, chose to use text as well as pictures for their recipes, others who had little, or no, literacy skills used images to describe the recipe process. Staff were on hand to assist with any text, when needed. A group member who had no literacy skills was easily able to follow a recipe by a fellow group member, using just the images, which were provided, to illustrate the preparation and cooking process. This project also helped individuals with their searching skills, looking for suitable images on the internets and being able to resize these pictures and cut and paste them into a document. Each page of the finished book was then laminated, so that it could be easily wiped clean when used in the kitchen. This was a project that was fun to do and allowed the participants to be involved in choosing their favourite foods. It also had a tangible end result that can be used in a practical way and helps the personal development and confidence of the individuals, and allows them to demonstrate their skills in producing the book to others, such as family and friends.