Through our Teacher and Classroom Grants program, Bright Minds Foundation is proud to support innovative educational initiatives like the HCPSS Vision Services Cooking Club, “Soup to Nuts.” Led by Centennial High School Teacher Lori Rudolph, this transformative project is changing how students with visual impairments develop essential life skills.

With a $1,500 grant from Bright Minds, the project equips students with adaptive tools and specialized kitchen equipment to plan, shop for, and prepare meals independently. The initiative addresses a critical need: while sighted students often learn cooking skills through observation, visually impaired students require direct, hands-on instruction to master these vital life skills.

“Since students with visual impairments don’t learn incidentally, they need hands-on experiences alongside conceptual learning,” explains Rudolph. “Throughout the program, our students use Braille to research recipes, create budgets, make shopping lists, and purchase ingredients. Then they prepare, cook, and clean up meals.”

The project’s impact goes far beyond the kitchen. Each monthly session incorporates components of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), including orientation and mobility, social interaction, and technology use. Students learn to navigate grocery stores, manage budgets, and use adaptive tools such as talking thermometers and microwave ovens.

“It was so fun to watch the students cooking, following Braille recipes, and using specialized kitchen equipment,” shares Rudolph. “These experiences build confidence and independence that will serve them throughout their lives.”

As one student shared, “Learning to cook independently has changed what I believe is possible for my future. I can now contribute to family meals and feel confident about living on my own someday.” His words echo the experiences of other students in the cooking club, who are also gaining confidence and independence through these hands-on lessons.

This investment in specialized equipment—including talking kitchen scales, high-contrast cutting boards, and adaptive cooking tools—will support future students for years to come. By fostering practical life skills, self-confidence, and autonomy, the Vision Services Team is creating an inclusive learning environment that equips students with vision loss with skills that are critical to long-term independence, helping to counter the alarming 70% unemployment rate among visually impaired adults.

Thanks to generous community support for Bright Minds’ Teacher and Classroom Grants program, educators like Lori Rudolph can bring creative, student-centered solutions to life. The Vision Services Cooking Club is a powerful example of how targeted funding can open doors of opportunity for Howard County students.

Bright Minds is currently preparing to review teacher and classroom grant applications for projects that will be delivered during the 2025-2026 school year. For more information about supporting Teacher and Classroom Grants and other Bright Minds initiatives that enhance educational opportunities for HCPSS students and educators, please visit brightmindsfoundation.org/donate.