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

[Debra Whitt]

The best thing to do is call all of the appliance stores and ask them about
the types of features you need and then go check them out.  Years ago I was
lucky enough to get a really great guy at Sears.  I felt all of the
appliances and told him what I needed and he got online and found a few
things and then we called around to see what stores, Best buy, H&H Greg,
Lowes, etc.. might have particular models so I could go see them in person
and when I found what I wanted he ordered it through Sears for me.  Stay
away from LG dishwashers.  I purchased one with buttons 4 years ago and had
it replaced 4 times in two years, this was a real fight, just to finally
have someone tell me the energy efficient feature meant it didn't really dry
completely and I could keep asking for them to be replaced but it would not
change the poor design.  It is getting harder to find accessible appliances.
I even had a flat top stove at one point which had different textures around
the burner section so you could feel, if you were careful where the burner
began and it was so easy to clean and the knobs clicked and the clock beeped
as you set it with each minute.  I wish I hadn't sold it with my house when
I did.  Crock pots and coffee pots are getting harder to find.  I got a
really good microwave at Sam's three years ago with raised buttons.  You
might try getting the number to a main factory for Kenmore, Whirlpool, etc.,
and call the companies directly and have someone research this for you and
they might even be able to tell you what stores in your area carry the
specific models that sound good to you.

Debra Whitt

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Dave Bahr
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 10:22 PM
To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
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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