Updated as of August 3, 2024.
An oft-heard joke is, “When all else fails, read the directions.” Of course, this sometimes leads us to another common truism: “The longest distance between two points is a shortcut.”
From food to technology, directions can save both time and frustration. While many pieces of technology now have their user manuals online, this is not true for many grocery items.
Directions for Mixes and Frozen Items
Here in the U.S., most food packaging provides only print information. Yet tools like SmartPhone apps and visual interpretation services can help us access that information non-visually (check out the Bridges Resource Library’s Accessing Visual Information entry for more information).
Another great resource is a one-stop-shop website called. DirectionsForMe. At DirectionsFor Me, we find a wealth of accessible information for many different products, including directions, nutrition information, ingredients, and sometimes allergy warnings. We can search by keyword (like Betty Crocker Super Moist Red Velvet cake mix) or browse the DirectionsForMe categories page to get accurate and accessible information quickly and easily.
- Want to make Jiffy corn muffin mix? They have it!
- How about Stove Top stuffing? They have it!
- Brownies for dessert? You’ll find the information on the box at directionsforme.org
Directions for More Than Food
DirectionsFor Me includes much more than just food package information. From household supply categories like Laundry Detergents and Dish Cleaning/Care Hand supplies, to gardening supply categories, like Weed Killers and Ground Cover/Landscaping/Mulching Fabrics to Grills and Outdoor/Garden Games, DirectionsFor Me houses product information for a variety of products.
Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
- Text: Send to: (410) 357-1546
- Voice mail: Call (410) 357-1546, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.