Toomey J Gazette (Vol. 11, No. 1, 1968 - Polio Place

HOMEMAKING
IZ~ustrntions Nancy Martt
This special feature on cooking quads evolved from the ex-
periences of a newlywed respiratory polio quad who discovered
cooking was fraught with problems for one in a wheelchair
with severe arm involvement.
In her first S 0 S to me for information on what booklets
were available and how other TjC readers were managing, she
wrote, "When I decided to get married in April 1965, 1 blithe-
ly hustled down to the nearest rehab center and hospital to
take a look at their kitchens,and learn about all the gadgets
that would make it possible for me to cook. Rude awakening.
IJith my limited use of arms and hands I Pound that I couldn't
turn on their water faucets, open their ovens...worse yet, I
couldn't even work their can openers."
So I sent her piles of books and pamphlets on kitchens for
the disabled. She studied them carefully and dug up more. She
began to jot down ways to save time and energy. She corres-
ponded with a few cooking quads. Then, together, we began to
work on a questionnaire to send to TiC cooking quads. As we
were finishing it, she wrote, "I have been cooking now for
over a year and realize that there are no easy solutions for
the cooking quad. The respiratory quad has the added burden
of under-ventilation resulting in fatigue. At this point I
think motivation and experience are the most important
factors for success."
Shortly after Sally Schmidt and I had mailed the question-
naires in December 1966, we received the saddening news that
this enchanting friend, Barbara Cory Good, had died of
pneumonia.
Disheartened, we let the project gather dust until an over-
night guest, UCP's Dr. Isabel Robinault, studied our question-
naires and urged us to complete this project. She felt that
these detailed experiences of TjG's forty severely disabled
homemakers could be of value to many who were less disabled.
Cartoons by Robert E.
Our thanks to the thirty-ni ne ladies s and the one gentleman
who were so helpful: Sally an d I have categorized their cooking
problems and combed their ques tior inaires for their solu-
,.- ---A
tions, which appear in quotes. mr cu~iinued Barbara's research
and addes our om suggestions after scrounging for
gadgets and ideas in my collection of self-help books from
all over the world, university studies, rehabilitation center
publications, and equipment, gift, and mail order catalogs.
The problems and soPutions on the following pages were
gleaned from the responses of these 40 cooking quads whose
disabilities were caused by: polio quadriplegia (21), respiratory
polio quadriplegia (9). traumatic quadriplegia (5),
muscular dystrophy (2), multiple sclerosis (I), muscle atrophy
(I), and dystonia (1). All are wheelchaired, though two
stand to cook. All have limited use of their upper extremities.
The number of ~eals they cook per week ranges from 5 to
21, averaging 14. Fifteen of them cook in ordinary kitchens
with varying modifications. Five have specially-built 1
ens. They live in 19 different states, Alberta and Ont~
Canada, and Nigeria, Africa.
- Gini Laurie, aalcor
$?$3v($.!$ State vocational rehabili-
tatmon agencies recognize the social
and economic values of homemaking
and are empowered to assist the dis-
abled homemaker to do her work in
kitchen. This may include the
!Eiancing of equipment and adapta-
tions if the family resources are insufficient.
--