Health
How Anne Ogden Cooks After Vision Loss
Health Points
- Adapting favorite activities after changes in vision supports emotional wellness.
- Meaningful connection through cooking and sharing meals boosts self-esteem and community bonds.
- Accessible kitchen tools empower independence at any age.
Anne Hatton Ogden, 67, grew up surrounded by horses and farmland in Pahokee, Florida, where she embraced a love for gardening and cooking.
Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age seven, she navigated vision loss by shifting her focus to the kitchen, finding joy in baking with family and sharing treats with her cousins.
“I just found it as a way to connect on a level I could feel like I could do, versus being good at the outside games.”
Despite becoming print-disabled and leaving her bookkeeping job, Anne refused to let her vision loss stop her from preparing meals and experimenting with new recipes.
With the help of her guide dog Angelo, she confidently shops for groceries and uses adaptive kitchen gadgets such as talking scales, smart ovens, and Meta Glasses to support her cooking.
“A brownie is done when it smells like a brownie; my pound cake is done when it smells like a pound cake.”
Anne continues to inspire others by adapting recipes from celebrity chefs and sharing her story in the “Cooking Without Looking” video podcast series.
She encourages everyone to find tools and strategies that help them enjoy their passions, no matter the changes they face.
Ready to rediscover your confidence in the kitchen? Embrace adaptive tools and remember that with a few changes, the joy of cooking can stay with you for life!