An Update on the Adaptive Kitchen at ISBVI

By: Seth Johnson

In addition to leading fundraising efforts surrounding the adaptive kitchen for youth who are blind or have low vision, the Indiana Blind Children's Foundation (IBCF) has been heavily involved in the design and construction of the adaptive kitchen at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI) at IPS School 94 on the east side where students and staff will be temporarily located for the next five years. The foundation brought on Kort Builders to help the school and IBCF construct the first adaptive kitchen specifically built for youth who are blind or have low vision in the state of Indiana. 

Construction began on Oct. 3, and per the current timeline, we are on schedule to complete the adaptive kitchen by mid-to-late December 2024. Much of the roughing in of the electrical and plumbing lines has been laid under the floor, in the ceiling, and throughout the walls. The walls have been framed, and the drywall is set to go up and be completed in the next week.

The Indiana Blind Children's Foundation is committed to partnering with the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to find a teacher to develop the school’s culinary arts program. If you know of a teacher with a background in family and consumer science who is looking to teach in a supportive environment with small class sizes (no more than 7 students in a class), ISBVI recently posted the job position which can be found here. Help us spread the word about the position as this teacher will serve a critical role in helping students who are blind or have low vision build confidence in the kitchen so they can be more independent now and in the future. 

Recently, IBCF was presented with a $50,000 check in support of the kitchen from BarnRaisers of Indiana following a successful golf outing at Prairie View Golf Club in September. A total of 144 golfers gathered for the BarnRaisers of Indiana event on what was a beautiful summer morning, raising funds for three local nonprofits, including IBCF, Ben’s Ranch, and Evans Scholars Foundation

IBCF was also recently awarded a $30,000 grant from Healthcare Initiatives Inc. in support of the adaptive kitchen at ISBVI. Thank you, Healthcare Initiatives Inc., for supporting this transformative, first-of-its-kind kitchen ensuring that ISBVI students can be more independent going forward!

Stay tuned to IBCF’s social media accounts for more updates on the adaptive kitchen in the next few months.

The image shows a section of a construction area with metal framing. The metal studs are arranged vertically and horizontally, forming a rectangular structure. Behind the metal framing, there is pink insulation material visible on the wall. The floor appears to be covered with a light-colored material, possibly carpet or vinyl. The framing seems to be part of a wall or partition under construction.  The image shows a section of a wall with exposed metal framing and plumbing. The metal studs are evenly spaced and attached to a concrete block wall. There are copper pipes running vertically through the middle of the frame, secured with metal brackets. Horizontal wooden beams are also attached to the metal studs, providing additional support. The floor is concrete, and the ceiling has a grid pattern, possibly indicating a drop ceiling  The image shows a trench cut into a concrete floor. The trench is filled with dirt and runs vertically through the center of the image. There are small piles of dirt on the floor next to the trench, indicating that the trench was recently dug. In the background, there is a blue wall with a white pipe protruding from it.  The image shows a partially constructed wall with exposed insulation and metal framing. The insulation is pink, typically fiberglass, and is placed between.

 

 

 

 

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