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

[David Andrews]

Annette, I think you have brought some good points to the 
discussion.  I would say to Brad, I look forward to your and the 
Jernigan Institute's project. It is much needed. It is interesting 
that appliance makers describe their appliances in terms of the 
ADA.  The ADA does not cover appliances, to the best of my memory, 
nevertheless .....

We probably need to find a way to: a. sponsor appliance accessibility 
legislation, and B. sue someone for inaccessibility, to get their attention.

Dave

At 11:04 AM 10/30/2016, you wrote:
>Hi Brad,
>
>
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>I believe that there are additional factors that are impacting the
>identification of appliances that can be used by people who are blind.  Let
>me see if I can explain.
>
>
>
>The lack of knowledge or the unwillingness of manufacture's customer service
>phone representatives to understand what blind consumers are looking for.  I
>have been working with GE for 3 weeks to identify an over the range
>microwave or microwave/convection oven, as well as a slide-in range.  I've
>explained what I need, as well as explained why each model they have
>identified is not accessible to someone who is blind.  After making no
>progress with that representative beside having a plastic card with 45
>2-letter braille combinations mailed to me, they have upon my request
>forwarded my case to someone else (maybe a supervisor).  I am now starting
>over with explaining what I am looking for, and explaining why the models
>being suggested by this second person is not accessible to someone who is
>blind.   They continually provide me with products that the manufacturer has
>labeled ADA Accessible, but they are not accessible to people who are blind.
>If you read the manufacturer's definition of ADA Accessibility, you will see
>that factors for non-visual access is not even mentioned.  In addition, 3
>other manufacturer's (LG, Whirlpool & Kitchen Aid) customer representatives
>have told me point blank that they do not have any products that do not use
>the new technology of very sensitive control panels that do not require
>pressure to operate, or a knob that only provides feedback on the digital
>screen.
>
>
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>If the manufacturer does make even one model that can be accessed without
>having to touch the overly sensitive panel in multiple spots to navigate to
>the desired location, or not require reading a digital screen to know what
>settings you are selecting, the customer representative are not able to help
>the blind consumer identify these models.  Sales people in local stores do
>not know anything more than what is written on the display sign for each
>appliance.  So when you ask if the control panel requires pressure to
>activate or whether the product produces an audible sound when the button is
>activated/de-activated, they have no idea.  The inability to test a product
>in a store just adds to our inability to identify a product that is
>accessible or that could be adapted to meet our individual needs.
>
>
>
>When visiting the homes of friends and relatives who have replaced various
>appliances within the past 3 years, we have found the appliance control
>panels to be overly sensitive, require no pressure to activate, and overall
>size of the panel to be too small to fit braille labels or other type of
>markings within close proximity to the buttons.  Consideration of placing
>the marks on the frame of the panel does not provide you with access to the
>buttons that are in the center of the panel.
>
>
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>Some microwaves are using a single dial used to control multiple features
>such as cooking mode, cooking time, cooking level, convection oven
>temperature, and much more.  Some microwave models do use a knob that
>provide a slight click, but does not have a defined start or end to the
>rotation.  Other models provide no physical feedback when turning the knob.
>The information being controlled by the knob is displayed on the digital
>display, and no audible sound is able to be produced as the settings are
>changed.
>
>
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>In addition, many models no longer produce an audible sound when a button is
>activated or de-activated.  I found this unbelievable, so we have read
>through a few manuals and have confirmed that it is indeed true.
>
>
>
>Your idea of visiting my local appliance stores equipped with an extension
>cord is worth consideration.
>
>
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>I think that it is time to stop letting manufacturers assume or dictate that
>if a person is blind that they be:
>
>
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>.         Limited to a stripped down model.  I believe that either all
>appliances should be accessible to people who are blind, or at a minimum at
>least 1 or 2 models be accessible within each model series or product level.
>
>.         limited to the concept of accessibility requiring the consumer to
>add braille labels or tactile marking to a product, or requiring the user to
>memorize what a button is or the settings available with each press of that
>button.  If it is reasonable for the average person to memorize what each
>press of a button will do, then why do manufacturers provide displays or
>indicator lights on their products.
>
>
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>In addition, the following should also be considered:
>
>
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>.         If it is not reasonable for a manufacturer to train all of their
>customer representatives, product distributors and sales people to
>understand the needs of a consumer with a disability, then manufacturers
>need to have a dedicated department (even if it is one person) who is
>knowledgeable of the needs of people with disabilities and the features of
>each product and how they can meet various user needs.  Information on how
>to access information about accessibility of products needs to be easily
>found.
>
>.         Manufacturers need to provide more details in their product specs
>that can help a consumer with a disability identify which features/aspects
>of an appliance they can or cannot access given their specific needs.
>
>.         While access to large home appliances is crucial to the daily
>independence of people with disabilities, access to other products such as
>exercise equipment and their mobile device apps, as well as entertainment
>and office equipment needs to be considered.  Have you tried to find a
>dedicated printer or Multi-Function Printer lately?  A person who is blind
>or those who have any type of disability should not have to spend days and
>weeks trying to find a product that they need or want.
>
>
>
>I hope my rambling is helpful.
>
>Annette
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>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Brad Hodges via Electronics-Talk
>Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2016 9:52 AM
>To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>Cc: Brad Hodges
>Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Does where we shop impact accessibility of
>appliances?
>
>
>
>Colleagues:
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>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.
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>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.
>
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>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?
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>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.
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>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.
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>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.
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>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.
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>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.
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>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
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>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.
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>Brad Hodges
>
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>
>Huntington WV