[Electronics-Talk] Does where we shop impact accessibility of appliances?

[Brad Hodges]

Colleagues:


As some of you long-time Federationists may recall, a number of years 
ago I had the privilege of working at our National Center. One of the 
areas of research and advocacy I undertook was to begin the exploration 
of the state of appliance accessibility. I also was pleased to have had 
several articles published in the Braille Monitor. Entitled "Crisis For 
The Blind at the Big Box Store" they summarized our understanding of the 
issues and technology of the time.


Fast forward more than a decade and I find myself prowling the isles of 
big box stores and other appliance departments once again. This time as 
a member who has an abiding interest in this topic. I intend to 
collaborate with the Technology Team at the Jernigan Institute, to once 
again publish a comprehensive survey of the appliance accessibility 
landscape.


To make a very long story short, most of what we observed in the early 
2000's still applies. So, what has changed? Why are things considerably 
more difficult now than they were in 2004? Is it time to establish 
standards for accessibility? Is government intervention necessary? Have 
our expectations for accessibility changed?


In posing these questions I'm hoping to expand our scope of exploration 
and to consider additional forces and factors which contribute to the 
bedeviling time we all have in finding a microwave oven or washing 
machine which we can use.


Yes, I'm getting to the topic you expected after reading the message 
header. Yesterday I was shopping at my local JCPenney store. Low and 
behold, what did I find on the second floor but a very well merchandised 
display of major appliances from LG, Samsung and GE. Of particular 
interest was how unfamiliar many of the models were. I have been 
tracking availability at Lowes, Home Depot and Sears for many years. It 
struck me, as I explored a GE front loading laundry pare, which look 
quite usable that something which a mgr at Home Depot shared. The floor 
space for appliance display in the big box store is rented by each 
manufacturer. Thus the choice of which models are available for public 
preview is controlled exclusively by those manufacturers.


Do you suppose that one of the issues which contributes to the state of 
affairs is a re tale experience which only includes a sampling of less 
accessible or manageable products? Since I believe it to be the case 
that relatively few models in any manufacturers lines is really usable, 
the chances of those models not showing up in the display space is 
perhaps quite high.


In addition to the GE laundry machines, I found an LG electric range 
with beautiful burner turn knobs on the front, and a back panel which 
would appear to lend itself very nicely to tactile markings. Several 
over-the-range microwaves looked promising, again to be used with 
tactile indicators. A Samsung dishwasher with 5 easy to feel buttons 
also intrigued.


I'll return to JCPenney, this time with a camera, an extension cord, and 
my husband to lend a hand and a pare of eyes.


Hope I haven't run to long here, but there was a qualitative aspect of 
the overall experience which I found encouraging. I also trust that as 
we progress in collecting our findings and thoughts for a new Monitor 
article that the collective experience of this group will help inform 
the conversation.


Brad Hodges

Huntington WV