May 28, 2020

Online cooking classes for teens and adults continue as restrictions ease

An online activity with fringe benefits is how one family describes Gateways Support Services online cooking classes for teenagers. 

Ashton’s mum, Michelle, says the group – set up for participants during COVID-19 isolation restrictions – had not only given her son the chance to try new activities while chatting with friends, but had been great for the family as a whole.  

‘It gave the whole family something different to do and look forward to.  Not to mention eat, enjoy and chat with others,’ says Michelle. 

The online teen cooking sessions are among a range of new activities offered by Gateways Support Services to ensure participants can keep achieving their NDIS goals, whilst having fun in a safe and secure environment.  

Gateways Support Services Recreation Coordinator Mandy Pitt says the interactive classes are led by experienced staff taking the group through the recipes step by step. 

She says some families chose to also have a support worker in the home to directly assist their child through the sessions, creating a learning experience the whole family could benefit from. 

‘As COVID-19 restrictions ease, we will continue to offer these online options as a safe alternative for people who may be hesitant to return to face to face groups,’ Mandy says. 

Michelle says she has enjoyed watching Ashton’s cooking skills develop; especially so given her son’s disabilities, which include limited concentration. 

‘Very slowly he is learning the skills of cooking.  The more we can practice, even if it is just spreading the tomato sauce, you have to start somewhere and build up,’ says Michelle. 

She’s also been pleased to see small but noticeable changes in Ashton’s concentration.  

‘Ashton will stay “on task” a little longer, but we still have a long way to go,’ she says.  

Gateways Support Services full range of online recreation services for teens and adults can be found in our Recreation section.  

One of our most active adult online cooking participants, Ibby, was also keen to showcase his skills in our newsletter.  With the help of his support worker, Ibby has mastered spring rolls, cannelloni and caramel slice! If you’d like to wrap spring rolls as well as Ibby can, check out this short instructional clip.

Contact your support coordinator or your nearest Gateways Support Services office to get involved.