The Metcalfe County Different Abilities group includes young adult members diagnosed with  autism, Down’s syndrome and other special needs with their adult mentors.  The Metcalfe Co. SNAP Assistant decided to start a monthly NEP class at the Extension office in Edmonton, to meet the needs of this group.  She worked with them to help them learn about how to eat healthier, save money when grocery shopping and gain cooking skills, to become more independent and confident in the kitchen.  The group attended monthly sessions from July 2018 through June 2019.  When these participants completed the entire NEP curriculum and graduated the course; data  showed a 75% increase in the quality of their diet and a 69% improvement in food resource management, since beginning the classes.

              From the hands on food preparation portion of the NEP meetings, the group improved their kitchen skills including reading a recipe, following directions, measuring and knife skills.  Most participants were surprised when they tried the healthy recipes and actually liked them, resulting in the 75% improvement in dietary quality, evidenced by the NEP graduation data.

              During the course of this group’s enrollment in the NEP program, the group leader also requested help with stress management and hands – on food preservation.  During the 2019-20 program year, the Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Education provided face to face programs on stress recognition and release, two hands-on food preservation workshops and a hands – on electric pressure cooker cooking class, to help meet their needs.  The FCS Extension Agent has eight program sessions scheduled with this group for the 2020/21 program year, to facilitate this group’s participant’s further development of their daily living skills, within the Extension learning environment.  This project was submitted for the 2019/20 Extension Diversity Award and was selected as a State winner!