Provide a checklist for the adolescent to refer to when using the microwave oven for meal preparation. Teach the adolescent to use a thermometer to ensure the food has reached the appropriate internal temperature. The Benefits of Contextual Strategies in Supporting an Adolescent with a Mild Intellectual Disability to Prepare Meals Independently

The Benefits of Contextual Strategies in Supporting an Adolescent with a Mild Intellectual Disability to Prepare Meals Independently

When providing occupational therapy to an adolescent with a mild intellectual disability who wants to be able to prepare meals independently, contextual strategies can be extremely beneficial. Such strategies include masking unnecessary microwave oven operation buttons and adhering pertinent pictures to the exposed buttons, providing a checklist for the adolescent to refer to when using the microwave oven for meal preparation, and teaching the adolescent to use a thermometer to ensure the food has reached the appropriate internal temperature. For example, masking unnecessary microwave oven buttons and adhering pertinent pictures to the exposed buttons will help the adolescent to focus on the buttons that are necessary for the task of heating a prepared frozen meal. This may also reduce the amount of time the adolescent spends on the task, as the complexity of the oven will be reduced (Lund et al., 2016). Providing a checklist for the adolescent to refer to when using the microwave oven will ensure that the adolescent remembers to turn the oven on and off and to. Cont…