[Electronics-talk] accessible dishwasher, refrigerator, and washer and dryer

[Comcast e-mail]

Hi Dave, I would have thrown in my suggetions sooner but my Outlook Express 
on my computer had problems over the last two or three weeks so I just got 
this. I would concider using a braille labler to mark your applience 
controls. You'll have to update them every few years whenever the braille 
wares off or whenever you have to replace the applience itself. I don't know 
about already accessable appliences. I wish I could help you more!!!
Kendra
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Bahr" <dcbahr1 at gmail.com>
To: <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 7:22 PM
Subject: [Electronics-talk] accessible dishwasher, refrigerator,and washer 
and dryer


Hi there,

I was recommended to this list by the folks over at cooking in the dark.
I was wondering if I could get some suggestions for a relatively
accessible dishwasher and refrigerator. My fiancé and I are moving into
a condo and we need to inform the design center about what
accommodations we might need.I am totally blind for the record.

Regarding the dishwasher, I have done my research and found the American
Foundation for the Blind articles but they are from 2007. They
recommended Whirlpool and Kenmore brands but did not provide model
numbers because they change so frequently. We need a built-in dishwasher
rather than one that is top-down. I don't need to access that many
settings but it would be nice to be able to control the temperature or
the cycle. I know that you can put markings on the front panel or
braille them, but it would be nice to have some built-in (in air quotes)
accessible features. I have attempted to braille my dishwasher at my
parents place but because the front panel gets hot when doing a dry
cycle, the braille from the dymo labeler ended up falling off. The folks
over at abledata.com recommended a few brands that have a strip of some
sort of tactile markings that one can feel. This is, admittedly, a
rather vague description but does anybody have something like this?

Regarding the refrigerator, there is not much to it but I would rather
not have one that has a digital screen above the ice and water filter
controls. We need a side-by-side refrigerator as my fiancé is in a
wheelchair and cannot use either a lower or upper freezer. I would
rather not have one with one single button where one has to change from
ice to water, but if you do have one or know of one that is accessible
with a single button, I am flexible and open to any suggestions you may
have.

Re: washers and dryers, we have a GE model which is somewhat accessible
because the knobs click and have an arrow on them. The complex that we
are buying the condo in recommended the Whirlpool duet but the reviews
on Amazon basically said that there washer and dryer is trash. I'm
wondering if anybody has any suggestions for a more accessible model? I
know the Whirlpool was favored in the 2007 AFB article for using tones
as a means of recognition and accessibility. But if the washer and dryer
isn't worth the money, the accessibility makes no difference.

Regarding price, I'll pay whatever it takes to have something that is
somehow blind friendly.

any suggestions are appreciated,
thanks, Dave

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