[blparent] Accessible Appliances

Sun Jan 3 22:43:40 UTC 2010

Good luck finding your part.  V

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Robert Shelton
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 3:15 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible Appliances

Looks like we may have a little more time to research the problem.  My
brilliant sweetie (normally not the greatest with mechanical reasoning)
asked a really good question last night -- "Why do you think that spin and
agitate both went out at the same time?  Could it be a belt?"  Ding dong!
Sure enough, I went out and swept underneath with the cane, and out came the
remains of one Frigidaire washer belt.  That's a repair I can do if we can
find the part.

Thanks again for all the excellent suggestions.  Texas is going to offer a
significant "Cash for Clunkers" style rebate for appliances starting in
April, and if this works out, will give us the chance to take advantage of
the rebate.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Elizabeth Pinto [mailto:jopinto at pcdesk.net] 
Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 5:43 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible Appliances

That's a good tip.  The knobs on my washer drive me crazy.

Jo Elizabeth

Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify 
the hunters.--African Proverb

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 4:21 PM
To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible Appliances

> Oh, I will try that. Thanks. V
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Eva
> Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 10:48 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible Appliances
>
> Veronica,
> Our old washer sounds like it was the way yours is. Someone showed me that
> if you turn the knob the opposite way it will come off, and then you can
> remove the top cover. The knob then can be screwed back on, and you can 
> mark
>
> the arrow with some glue or tape. They told me a lot of times those top
> covers will come off, and are only there for decoration or something.
>
> Eva
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 9:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible Appliances
>
>
>>I have mine brailled, but what I found was the inner circle moves and the
>> outer circle moves and sometimes they don't work quite right and the
>> washer
>> doesn't rinse the clothes. Weird! V
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Barbara Hammel
>> Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 7:10 AM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible Appliances
>>
>>
>>    What I did with my washer and dryer is Brailled out a diagram for
>> reference.  Of course, you have to keep it in a safe place or you're 
>> sunk.
>> I've lost mine a few times before I found a good place to hide it.  Ours
>> is
>> a a Whirlpool.  Guess I've never gotten around to actually Brailling it.
>> The reference sheet works well enough, I guess.
>> Barbara
>>
>> A Congress that will always do its work in the dark must have something 
>> to
>> hide.  The people have spoken, yet they do not listen.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Leanne Merren" <leemer02 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10:11 PM
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] Accessible Appliances
>>
>>> Our dishwasher has a touch pad and I actually like it because it was so
>>> easy to braille.  There are several buttons and it would have been a 
>>> pain
>>> to try to remember what each one does.  So I just labeled it with my 
>>> dymo
>>> tape labeler and it's pretty easy to use.  You still have to press 
>>> pretty
>>> hard on the buttons for it to change so I haven't had issues with it
>>> being
>>
>>> bumped or anything when I'm trying to read it or otherwise.  If I mess 
>>> up
>>> and I'm not sure what setting I have it on, then I have to ask my son or
>>> somebody what it's set on, but mostly I keep it on the same settings
>>> anyway, so the only buttons I usually need to push are start or maybe
>>> change the cycle if I don't wash as many dishes or something.  It might
>>> be
>>
>>> trickier with something like a washer though where different people 
>>> might
>>> be using different settings and you don't know what it's set on when you
>>> go to use it.
>>> We had a tech out to work on our dishwasher once from Maytag and he told
>>> us that for our washer and dryer, which are Whirlpool (the 2 companies
>>> are
>>
>>> the same now), we could have gotten braille over lays for the dials for
>>> free if we had called them within 6 months of purchasing the machines.
>>> They came with the house though so that wouldn't have worked for us. 
>>> But
>>> you might want to check with them and see what your options are for
>>> getting your appliances labeled for free if you buy their products.  I
>>> think they have to be specifically Whirlpool products, but I could be
>>> wrong.  Also, I'm hearing from a lot of people that they're having 
>>> issues
>>> with GE products, so something to do some research on before you buy.
>>> *smile*
>>> Leanne
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Robert Shelton" <rshelton1 at gmail.com>
>>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 12:18 AM
>>> Subject: [blparent] Accessible Appliances
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi -- happy holidays everyone.  Turns out that we will be replacing
>>>> several
>>>> major appliances -- washer, dryer, dishwasher -- very soon.  For many
>>>> years,
>>>> we have simply muddled through, but I'd like to be smart about
>>>> purchasing
>>>> equipment that either of us can use.  My sweety can see, and I've 
>>>> always
>>>> been able to get by in a pinch, but a lot of new appliances have
>>>> touchpad
>>>> controls which might be a challenge.  Surely this is an issue that many
>>>> blind people have faced.  Wonder if anyone publishes something like a
>>>> Consumer Reports for accessibility of common household appliances.  If
>>>> there
>>>> are other lists/resources devoted to this topic, I'd appreciate a
>>>> pointer.
>>>> A couple of weeks ago, I posted a question about how to deal with a
>>>> diabetic
>>>> partner and got steered to an excellent resource -- thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Best wishes to all,
>>>>
>>>> --Robert
>>>>
>>>>
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