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Blindness is a disability, but, it’s the way others see that disability which can truly disable a person - "Cooking Without Looking" motto.
Meet Allen Preston, one of the most ABLE people you might ever get to know. Preston, who has been visually impaired since birth, learned at an early age, “If someone told me I couldn’t do something, I always found a way to do it, God gave me an opportunity to see the world in a unique way – to take advantage of what you have and live your life.”
And live indeed he has, he has been a teacher, worked on cars, raised a son, has performed in regional theater, and since 2000, along with Annette Watkins, co-hosts the ground-breaking TV show– “Cooking Without Looking.”
“Cooking Without Looking features the ABILITY of a person who happens to have a disability. And, when others see the ABILITIES of people with a disability, it changes the way we see blindness. The show prides itself on being the only TV show that features people who are blind or have low vision. This show allows real people who just happen to be visually challenged to prepare their favorite recipe,” said Preston.
“Back in 2000, when we first launched the show there was so much to teach the production crew, they told us to look at the red light to know which camera to look at and when it was live. Of course, Annette and I died laughing and tried to explain we could not see the red light, and we certainly could not read the tele-prompters they wanted us to use,” explained Preston.
“So we came up with the idea for the crew to snap their fingers by the correct cameras and of course, we had to memorize our lines and, in many cases, just had to improvise.” The show always features blind or visually impaired chefs who are professional chefs from all over the world or are just people who love to cook and want to share how they navigate through the kitchen safely and still have fun.
“Through the years, we have evolved to 100% internet based, so the entire show is filmed in our respective kitchens, including the guest chef’s kitchen. I just love doing this show, it’s so much fun and we laugh so much, but what I love most is showing the world, especially the visually impaired that they are not alone, we provide encouragement and hope – especially when using knives and hot ovens,” said Preston.
Preston uses this confidence to host the show, to work as a regional actor, to serve on the Lighthouse for the Blind’s board and to serve as a mentor and friend to the blind and visually impaired community.
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