[nabs-l] access to Work Out Equipment

Sat Jun 13 01:42:51 UTC 2009

I know they have accessible rowing machines. Or at least a program that 
makes the machine talk. I can't remember the name of it though. I'm sorry.
Hope and Beignet
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 9:28 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] access to Work Out Equipment


> Jessica,
>
> I second that!  I'd pay extra for an accessible treadmill or eliptical. 
> They make so many talking devices including ones for health like talking 
> thermometers  and scales.
> So why hasn't someone come up with a talking piece of cardio equipment?  I 
> wrote a while back about accessible appliances.  The same goes for workout 
> equipment.  Just substitute appliance for cardio equipment and you have 
> the same problem.
> Flat screens are prevalent in fitness equipment.  The flat display allows 
> you to program a workout with hills or varied resistance. It also provides 
> you with great information about your workout including speed, distance, 
> and estimated calories burned.  Such information is inaccessible.  Well, I 
> have enough vision to read the screen and do so.  But for some that's not 
> an option.
>
> You can label the screenwith dimo tape or something for now so at least 
> you can start and stop it independently.  But still the display is not 
> accessible.
>
> To answer your question, NFB is working on this I think.  Call the 
> national office and ask someone in the legislative department to be sure. 
> NFB has proposed a technology bill of Rights.  I know little about it 
> other than it will mandate that new technology  includes some non visual 
> access.  This probably includes those flat screens on fitness equipment. 
> You might want to bring this concern to Lisa Maria the sports and rec 
> president and the NFB national office.
>
> BTW, for now some equipment is more tactile than others.  I heard through 
> the sports and rec list.
> Nordic Track has a treadmill with tactile switches.
> Also Precor is pretty tactile.  I used a Precor eliptical at the gym and 
> the arrows for crossramp and  resistance are tactile.  The start button 
> feels different too.
>
> HTH,
> Ashley
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jessica Kostiw" <jessicac.kostiw at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 7:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] access to Work Out Equipment
>
>
>> Hey, I apologize, I know this is an old thread.  I've been really busy 
>> and am just now getting to my E mail.  I have a question.  Does anyone 
>> know if NFB or ACB has ever tried to push for accessible exercise 
>> equipment?  It seems to me they would make a killing!  I don't know about 
>> you, but I would pay a little extra for a talking treadmill, or 
>> elliptical.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>> Jessica Kostiw
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 5:34 PM
>> Subject: [nabs-l] access to appliances
>>
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Now a days it seems like more flat pannels out there!  Many students 
>>> live at home when not studying at college in the dorms.  For those of 
>>> you in your own places, a question.
>>>
>>> How have you made your appliances accessible?  All appliances are flat: 
>>> microwaves, stoves, and ovens.  Dishwashers too.  These flat touch 
>>> screens can be labeled so we can use them.  Stoves are another problem 
>>> though.
>>> I know there are talking microwaves.  Are there other talking 
>>> appliances? It would be neat to have a talking dishwasher so it could 
>>> call out to you when your dishes were done!
>>>
>>> Do you have stoves you can feel the burners?  Most stoves now have flat 
>>> tops!  I was at Sears and another store and saw this.  I don't think a 
>>> flat stove would be real safe.  I have one at home here and use my 
>>> vision for it.  Its harder to center the pots.  When I could touch the 
>>> burners I touched them before turning on the stove.  I centered the pot 
>>> and then turned the stove on.  My point being flat stoves are not as 
>>> accessible!
>>> When they started making flat stoves with flat burners they didn't think 
>>> of low vision.
>>> I have tunnel vision.  The burners are not even a different color making 
>>> it hard to see!  You can only see it after the stove is turned on and 
>>> the burner turns a redish color from the heat.
>>>
>>> Are there companies that have more accessible appliances than others? 
>>> If so, which ones? Any out there making the old type of stove where the 
>>> burners were raised?
>>> Just wondering what's out there.  If this is a problem, NFB should 
>>> advocate for accessibility.
>>>
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>>
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>>
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