Mike's support team helped him build the skills and confidence needed to cook delicious meals for himself and his girlfriend.
Mike's support team helped him build the skills and confidence needed to cook delicious meals for himself and his girlfriend.

ACBDD Special Edition: Mike’s path to becoming a master in the kitchen

Below is an excerpt from the ACBDD’s 2026 Special Edition, which is produced in partnership with Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and The Post. The full edition can be found here.

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By Jack Kiamie

Mike Weekly always liked to get out into the community and shop for groceries with his direct support professional, but he never cooked with those groceries because he didn’t know how.

His support team at the ACBDD came up with a plan to help him save time so he could finally learn to cook. They taught him how to ride the bus and grocery shop on his own, freeing his time with his direct support professional to focus on making a home-cooked meal for his girlfriend.

The first step of the quest for Weekly was to master using public transportation. Bianca Sankar, his service and support administrator; and Jennifer Stiltner, his former direct support professional, rode the bus with him the first day and showed him the different places he could stop and what time to get back on.

Shopping on his own freed up time for Weekly to work on his cooking skills, and also increase his confidence and independence. Next, he learned step-by-step how to prepare a meal from beginning to end.

Together, he and his direct support professional would figure out a recipe, buy the ingredients, and then follow each step of the recipe. Reading packaging, preparing the ingredients, using various kitchen tools, and, most importantly, cooking safely are all skills he gained. When he cooks, he wears his chef hat and apron, proud of what he has achieved.

Weekly started with slow-cooker meals and now makes more delicate dishes such as baked fish for his girlfriend. Now, he likes to cook and share meals with his friends as well.

It has been special for Sankar and June Balch, Weekly’s current direct support professional, to see how far he has come since his quest began.

“It was challenging at first to get Mike to commit to the actions of actually cooking,” Sankar said “But once we stuck with it and encouraged him, his love for the kitchen… really has grown, and he’s proud of it.”

• Edited by doctoral student Matt Fitzgerald