A state-of-the-art training kitchen, the first of its kind in Israel, has been established at the Taf Lataf School for children with special needs, which is partially funded by the Shalem Foundation.
The purpose of the training kitchen is to enable the pupils to gain experience in working – with guidance and supervision – in a kitchen to prepare them for independent life as adults, provide them with training for future employment and teach them motor, language and learning skills.
The training kitchen at Taf Lataf, which was built specially for children with moderate to profound IDD, is adapted for children with physical disabilities.
The purpose of the training kitchen is to enable the pupils to gain experience in working – with guidance and supervision – in a kitchen to prepare them for independent life as adults, provide them with training for future employment and teach them motor, language and learning skills.
The training kitchen at Taf Lataf, which was built specially for children with moderate to profound IDD, is adapted for children with physical disabilities.
The kitchen is fully equipped with work surfaces, gas ranges, electrical appliances and utensils that have been adapted for accessibility and safety. This “smart” kitchen is operated with iPads.
Professional staff are always with the pupils in the kitchen. Under their guidance, the children prepare dishes according to their level of ability and gain experience in peeling pre-cut fruits and vegetables or shredding them for fresh or cooked salads. They also learn how to bake cakes and cookies, prepare desserts and confections, and fry omelettes, to name only a few examples.
In addition to cooking skills, the children also learn the rules of cleanliness and safety and acquire proper work habits. In addition, they develop fundamental ADL (activities of daily living) skills.
The staff at Taf Lataf, which invests a great deal of time and energy in preparing the pupils in various fields, places considerable emphasis on the basic skills needed for proper social and behavioral functioning and on basic ADL skills. The goal is to prepare the children for a life of optimal quality and as full as possible within the community where they will reside as adults.
The Shalem Foundation is a partner in the establishment of this training kitchen.
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