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So Friends, use your discretion

There is a Center for Universal Design at NC State. They have done some interesting research and projects. (I have a vested interest in what they are doing, obviously.)

Whether the OP is really affiliated with them, hard to say.

Here is a link that might be useful: NC State CUD

This does appear to be legit. I received more info on it this morning from the project coordinator. It is a state university research project.

OK, I'm a sucker. I looked. The survey doesn't seem to be very inclusive, as it's mainly about cookware, which doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as height of cooktops, ovens, prep and washing areas for someone who has real disabilities. I actually planned my kitchen with universal design in mind, and from the questions, I don't see what they actually think they're going to figure out from the answers. I doubt it makes any difference whether I use stainless, copper or anodized aluminum cookware, as to whether or not I might sustain burns. I think they're barkin' up the wrong tree.

Claire, from what the email said, they are focusing only on cookware for this project and are just starting it.

Maybe they want a baseline of current consumer use and expectations? Or maybe if there is no interest in copper cookware, there's no point in them spending time considering it in their final prototype? I don't know.

IMO, tools are more of a problem for me than cookware. Why the ____ someone can't design a well-made, high-contrast, large print, well-balanced measuring cup or large print candy (or audio) thermometer is beyond me.

I'm going to take the survey later, after I get home.

As for measuring cups, I have found that the Oxo angle cup that has the calibrations on a diagonal shelf (of sorts) that you can read from above is very good at being easy to read and use. As for candy thermometers, I use a digital one that has large digits and also an alarm that goes off when it reaches a preset desired temperature. I'm always afraid the battery will run down in the middle of candy making, however, and so I keep a non-digital one handy.

Lars

Lars, I have that measuring cup. MIL left one here. I can't see the numbers on it at all. My Pyrex has better contrast and larger numbers. (And why do they have to make it out of such thin, cheap plastic?)

When you get a chance, would you see what brand that candy thermometer is/ I like the alarm idea. That alarm would solve the whole problem!

I am very interested in the application of UD in regular consumer items rather than as "specialized" items. Not just for people like me, but as people age, vision, hearing, fine motor coordination tend to decrease. As a designer, you are probably keenly aware of form vs function, and know that the two don't have to be incompatible.

Renee, you're exactly right about tools! I finally figured out which tool to use to mince garlic, because of arthritis in my fingers. (Leaning into the mincer and mashing with the palm of my hand works much better than needing to use my fingers to grip the darn thing closed.) I finally switched to colored melamine measuring spoons, as I could figure out by the color what size they were. I know exactly what you mean about measuring cups!

As far as cookware goes, well I don't think I'm the average consumer. I like the reactive qualities of copper, but I don't think the average person would want to fuss with it (thinking they'd had to polish it all the time). I refuse to use aluminum without parchment between the food and the pan, and I like my cast iron. (Seasoning it seems to be problematic for some.) I looked the survey over, but didn't get any farther than that. I didn't get the impression that my answers to their questions would really help!

I'm more than a little curious as to just what some of you consider a "real disability".

I'm also curious as to what problems you have that affects how you work in the kitchen.

I took the survey, I think they are trying to learn just what kind of cookware people use, also whether buying in sets or individual items is preferable.

I am not 'disabled' in so much as I do have all my limbs, nor do I need a wheel chair.

But I do have a handicap in that the arthritis in my shoulders, back & feet makes some things very hard for me to do. The configuration of cookware, how the handles are set, etc, also the weight, is very important to me.

So my personal opinion is that this survey can be quite useful.

Just my humble opinion.

Rusty

Rusty, I'm confused. Is your question direted to me or Claire.

Arthritis can be quite debilitating, and I would consider serious arthritis to be a mobility-related challenge, certainly.

Well.... I sure have an obvious disability. I am in a wheelchair most of the time. However sometimes, I would kneel on my wheelchair to get some heights while cooking.

Easy to hold items, easy to reach items, easy to maneuver around the kitchen, these are all important factors to consider for a disabled cook. Claire is right on the spot about the more importance of how the kitchen is designed and what type of utensils/kitchen gadgets to use for the disables rather than what type of cookwares to use.

Cooking involves... HOT temperature. Using any type of cookware could burn you. If someone disabled wants to avoid getting burned... well... simply don't cook!

After living in this house for 4 years, I understood and knew what my needs were. I had my kitchen refaced and at the same time, fixed up so I could have an easier time cooking in this kitchen. ie.: I changed all lower cabinet shelves to pull-out shelves. Since I use lower cabinets more often, I also added a couple of floor cabinets. At the same time, these new cabinets provided me with more countertop spaces. Now, I just love to cook in my kitchen. I can actually reach my kitchenwares inside the cabinets! If I had fixed up this kitchen when I first moved in, it probably would have been mostly wrong since I haven't had a chance to experience cooking at it.

As for cookware, I have both SS & cast irons cookware. But, I also have a granite countertop that allows me to drag hot cast iron cookware across the countertop between the sink & the cooktop. Not much lifting involves.

Disability is so different from person to person. Thus, involved individual's specifics. How could someone design or advise something that is so designed specific for the disables.

IMO, this survey may not do much good in helping the disables. Unless, if it involved getting a microwave and a slowcooker for cooking. Then again, those are not cookwares, are they... :o)

It's probably a safe bet to say everyone wants to avoid getting burned. The idea is to minimize the potential through changes in design that address what actions or conditions increasse the potential for getting burned. A locking lid or more ergonomic handle could make a big difference, and it's a change that ALL cooks could appreciate. Those pull out drawers in cabinets were once a mere concept in some company's Research and Development department, and before that company would invest in it, they probably need hard data to show that it would not only work, but that they would sell.

beanthere_dunthat, these are the two comments that aroused my curiosity.

Posted by Clare de luna: "The survey doesn't seem to be very inclusive, as it's mainly about cookware, which doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as height of cooktops, ovens, prep and washing areas for someone who has real disabilities."

Posted by beanthere dunthat: "Not just for people like me, but as people age, vision, hearing, fine motor coordination tend to decrease."

I am merely curious, no criticism or anything else intended.

I totally agree with ntt_hou, disability is very different from person to person, as is the definition of disability.

Now, I hope I haven't put my foot even further into my mouth, as I seem to have a tendency to do. :>)

Rusty

Rusty, no problem. I thought the survey would be more inclusive re: the disability factor, and not just about cookware. This might be tl;dr!

If so, disregard!

I consider my height to be a disability (not enough of it), but as I said, I designed my kitchen around that. I have a couple of lowered counters that makes chopping, rolling and seeing into a pot or bowl easier for me because of that. One chopping block pulls out from the counter, so I can sit and chop from a chair if I need to be off my feet. My kitchen and dining room chairs all roll, so I can move them around more easily. We took the 2-inch base off my range so it would be lower, which allowed me to finally see into my pots. The controls under the cooktop are on the front of of the range. My wall oven opens from the side, so I can access the back of it, making it easier for me to take things out of a hot oven, or clean up a mess inside. That particular oven is mounted at counter height, which is easier to get into without bending over, yet low enough for me to see into and access easily. The oven on my range (below the cooktop) has a shallow door, which make it easier for me to get into, and no window to clean. The light switches and plug outlets are all about waist high so they're easy to use, or incorporated into the back splash next to the counter. The sink closest to my range is on the corner, and open on two sides so it can be accessed from the island, or the cooktop. Tapmaster allows me to use two hands at the sinks (handsfree) so I can get a grip. Because the stove is low, I'm short and my husband is tall, we put more cfm's in the hood than is normally recommended so it would draw better because of the distance between the cooktop and the vent. It all seems pretty basic, but when you start looking at all the different equipment available, the differences are huge.

Regarding cookware, because of arthritis I do have some very thin, lightweight stainless lined copper pans (vintage pieces), which allow me to toss the items together (without the need to stir.) I was fortunate to find some thinner, lighter vintage cast iron pieces which I also like, as the pan heats more quickly and at lower temperatures. As I mentioned though, I don't think it really makes any difference for the general population who doesn't really cook.

Of course helper handles make total sense, as do lids and pots with cool touch handles, but that seems like a no-brainer to me.

Beanthere, the thermometer I have is the Taylor 519 digital candy thermometer, and it has very large numbers on a very large screen. It has a number of preset target temperatures - you can't set just any temperature - but the ones it has are the ones I need. For caramel, the preset temperature is 244°, and sometimes I want caramel to go to 248°, but I've found that is reaches 248° very quickly after reaching 244°, and so I like being warned at that temp. I think when I bought it that it came with an additional battery, but I haven't found that after my move. I might go ahead and buy another battery for it anyway, just to be safe.

Lars

Thank you, Lars. That is a far better option than what I have now. I'm going to order one. Once you've dropped a magnifying glass in a pot of caramel...well....LOL!

Claire, where the heck did you find a side-opening oven? That's terrific!

Rusty, No problem, and no offense taken. I just didn't want to jump in if the question was for someone else. :)

I'm low-vision. The best my vision has ever been was 20/100 when I was a child. Now it's about 20/400 in my best eye under optimal conditions. (Outdoors or in very bright light, I am now functionally blind.) So, what I meant by "like me" was when the condition is due to a specific condition, illness or injury as opposed to a inspecific gradual decrease in sensory imput..or what's commonly referred to as "the effects of aging."

I think many of the things that are developed to help the disabled have a wider potential audience among the elderly. And to market to that wider audience would make assistive-living items more affordable. Right now, assistive-living products targeted to the disabled are obscenely expensive. (Probably because they assume government agencies will pay for it.) I have a reader that contains the same basic technology as a digital camera -- zoom, contrast adjustment, free-frame, rechargable battery. You can buy a digital camera for under $80 now. This thing was $1500! Why? Because they can. It's a niche market.

Renee, It's a Gagganau and I love it. There are several other side opening ovens:

Frigidaire's 27" side-swing 3.4 c.f.
Fagor's 24" side-swing 1.8 c.f. (nicely compact)

After having one, I'll never go back!