Neurodivergent Urban Youth (NUY) Clinic
Patient Resources
At the NUY clinic we recognize, value, and celebrate neurodiversity. Our team honors how patients choose to identify, highlights patient strengths when providing care, and individualizes support. We are committed to creating a welcoming space where patients and their families feel respected, understood, and supported when receiving care in the NUY clinic.
Transition to Adulthood Resources
Explore resource guides, worksheets, and information pages on a range of transition to adulthood topics below. The resources listed can help you learn about the different services and supports available in the community as you transition to adulthood.
Transition to Adulthood Timeline
Transition to Adulthood Timeline: Simplified Version
Creating Your Vision: Workbook for Adolescents
Inclusive Cooking
The BMC Teaching Kitchen and the Neurodivergent Urban Youth (NUY) Clinic have collaborated to host “Inclusive Cooking," an interactive cooking program for neurodivergent* adolescents ages 12-24. The class aims to create a welcoming environment where participants have the space, time, and support to develop kitchen skills alongside their peers.
Each class focuses on a new cooking skill such as kitchen safety, knife skills, making sauces or temperature control, and provides the chance to learn a delicious new recipe, such as mac and cheese, ramen bowls, and quesadillas.
No prior cooking experience is needed to join the class—we invite expert cooks and beginners in the kitchen to join! Classes are offered virtually and in-person.
The goals of the class are for participants to:
- Develop kitchen safety and cooking skills
- Increase independence and confidence when cooking
- Learn simple recipes to practice at home
- Practice social and communication skills
- Have fun!
*this includes, but is not limited to, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), learning disability (LD), and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as individuals who identify as neurodivergent and/or autistic.
Learn More About Inclusive Cooking
The Inclusive Cooking class offers several supports:
- Visual supports provided before class, including:
- Grocery list
- Kitchen tools list
- Cooking set-up
- Recipe instructions
- Recipes designed to allow for food substitutions. Find out more about food substitutions.
- Additional cooking time
- Regular check-ins on cooking progress
- Encouragement of participant questions
- A focus on different kitchen skills in each class
- Staff trained in supporting neurodivergent youth
- Parents/caregivers invited to join the class and support as needed
Please reach out if there is additional support that would help you access the class.
Paige Rizzuto, MPS, RDN
Paige is a virtual culinary dietitian at Boston Medical Center's Nourishing Our Community Program. She leads virtual culinary nutrition classes and workshops, focusing on chronic disease management, wellness, and prevention. Passionate about health equity and culinary education, Paige empowers participants with practical skills for sustainable, health-focused choices. Paige teaches the Inclusive Cooking program virtual classes.
Katie Campbell, MA
Senior Community Wellness Advocate
Katie is the Senior Community Wellness Advocate in Boston Medical Center’s Neurodivergent Urban Youth Clinic. She supports youth and their families in navigating the transition to adulthood by sharing information, connecting to services, and developing youth-centered resources and programming.
Katie is focused on creating inclusive, accessible, and engaging youth programming that promotes meaningful participation, skill development, and community building. She is passionate about empowering youth to confidently navigate the transition to adulthood and build the skills needed to reach their goals. In collaboration with the BMC Teaching Kitchen, Katie developed the Inclusive Cooking program and leads the program development and communications.
Explore the delicious recipes cooked in past Inclusive Cooking classes below.
Crispy Potato Chip Chicken Tenders
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips
Simple Scrambled Eggs with Vegetables & Toast
Find out more about the BMC Teaching Kitchen and the Inclusive Cooking program on the Teaching Kitchen webpage.
To stay informed about future Inclusive Cooking classes and receive information on class registration, join our Inclusive Cooking emailing list!
If you have questions, please contact the NUY Clinic at NUYinfo@bmc.org.
The Inclusive Cooking program launched in February 2025 in partnership with BMC’s Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics as the DBP Virtual Cooking Class. We relaunched in September 2025 as Inclusive Cooking, in partnership with BMC’s Neurodivergent Urban Youth (NUY) Clinic.