[Diabetes-Talk] 530 G Pump

[Rick Mladek]

Mary,

 

There is nothing illegal for a company to not produce a product that is accessible for one needing such added features. If this were true, we could all go after a company such as those making washing machines and dryers to televisions. There is people working on a pump that will be 100% accessible and will be introduced in time. However, as others believe this not to happen, of those companies with pumps on the market, they have no need to be concerned for there is no law to make anything accessible for any specific individual or group of individuals. This, if forced to be so, would have many simply moving their products out of the United States. Government cannot force a company to consider adding anything to a design to allow any disabled individual ability to use independently. Look at laws that force websites to be accessible to those using speach technology. They have failed for we all continuously find websites impossible to use. However, for insulin pumps, I will only say to be patient, one is coming and this is all I will publicly say at this time.

 

From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Matt Davis via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2020 11:09 AM
To: Diabetes-Talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Matt Davis <mdavisforalternatives at gmail.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] 530 G Pump

 

What to do now?? 

For those of us using this pump and having spoken with the pump reps, our physicians and still continue to do so, about this dilemma without success, seems illegal for Medtronic.

Different thoughts have arisen, why can’t the company continue with this model?

Acu Chek had a pump that was designed for the sighted person to control the pump non-visually(my understanding was that the people researched wanted a pump that they could manipulate while it was in their pocket or at least under the table in order not to distract from conversation going around them)

So, my understanding was that Acu Chek designed their pumps for that reason.

and because they did, blind people could use them. 

About 23 years ago, I bought one of their pumps. We Received training from Mary Leighton, an RN at the Diabetes Education Center of the Midlands. Because of its accessibility, I was interviewed with the Omaha World Herald newspaper as being the first blind person in Nebraska to use an Acu Chek pump.  

Within the last 10 years, the company went out of business. I feared going on the Metronic pump as I knew I would not have the independence I had with the Acu Chek pump. I have been using this 530 G for a few years now. It seems that if companies could design their pumps back then to have tones and vibrations, certainly, Metronic can design one now!

My question is, “Why haven’t they?”

Sincerely,

Mary

 

 

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