Melwood Community Services provides support and services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. A hallmark of the day program is that it is self-directed—meaning participants shape their own experiences based on their interests. 

That’s why, when some participants expressed a desire to learn culinary skills, Melwood Community Services found a way to make it happen.

Melwood Community Services built a connection with Kitchen of Purpose, an Arlington nonprofit which creates opportunities for social and economic change through feeding, educating, and empowering the community, and developed a disability-forward curriculum to meet participants at their level and enhance their life skills.

The result is a six-week course that provides hands-on experience in a professional kitchen. At the end, participants walk away with a safety knife, a pair of cutting gloves, a pamphlet of recipes they made throughout the course, and a newfound confidence in cooking.

The inaugural program was led by Dan Traster, an experienced chef and educator with 37 years in the culinary industry. “On the first day, I asked students what they hoped to learn. They were worried about cuts and burns and ovens. A big part of this is getting them comfortable in the kitchen,” he said.

Traster, along with Melwood Community Services’ program supports, guided students through food preparation, knife skills, and cooking techniques. Kitchens can be intimidating, but under his guidance, student Adele mastered knifework for salads, while Craig confidently removed a hot dish from the oven.

For Ann Tracey, who spent years cooking alongside her mother in their family home, the Melwood-Kitchen of Purpose collaboration gave her the confidence and know-how she needs to start thriving in a culinary environment. Ann’s mother, Karen, noticed a difference in her daughter’s confidence right away.

“She’s 29 and doing things outside of home and expanding her independence which is really important and drives self-confidence and self-worth,” Karen said. “The fact that Melwood doesn’t just tell people what to do, but shows them that their interests and their voices matter, makes all the difference.”

Melwood Community Services continues to explore and create new opportunities based on the interests and needs of its participants. This culinary arts program was made possible through funding from the Washington Forrest Foundation and Arlington Community Integration Funds. The next cohort is already in the works, offering more individuals the chance to build confidence and skills in the kitchen.

To learn more about day programs and other services offered by Melwood Community Services, visit www.melwooodcommunity.org to learn more.