[NFB-InTheKitchen] Advocacy-Please accept my apologies for a potentially off-topic post.

[Justin McDevitt]

Hello Mike,
Your original July post prompted me to contact Shark to inquire about this specific multi-function smoker. The rep that I spoke with wasn’t sure about the App, but asserted that the controls on the unit might be accessible. I was particularly concerned about setting the time and temperature.
A blind guy from an adaptive technology website that I also contacted informed me that the more basic model of this smoker that he owns is accessible. He was not familiar with the App.

I shared the above information on a post to the list in the latter part of July.
I too live in the Twin cities, (St. Paul to be specific.) It would be great to speak with you offlist. I am considering investing in this smoker and would like to learn more about its features, non-withstanding the accessibility issue: an ongoing reality that we blind folks are faced with and need to confront. My email is jusliz at outlook.com

Justin McDevitt

From: NFB-InTheKitchen <nfb-inthekitchen-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mike Hanson
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 1:18 PM
To: nfb-inthekitchen at nfbnet.org
Subject: [NFB-InTheKitchen] Advocacy-Please accept my apologies for a potentially off-topic post.

You might recall I asked if the Ninja Connect App was accessible in late June or early July.  It was then.  It is not as of August 2.  This affects the Ninja Wood Fire Pro Connect XL, which is a combined grill, smoker, roaster, air frier, which also allows the user to bake and dehydrate.  It costs much less than alternatives I know of.  This product requires setting both the time and temperature, which cannot be set without sight if the app is not accessible.  It comes with charts.  However, there are recipes these charts do not include.

  I find this particularly frustrating because the previous app version was accessible.  I eventually got through to Ted Stodolka. His email is tstodolka at sharkninja.com<mailto:tstolka at sharkninja.com>.  His phone number is (415) 866-0211.  I suggest that anybody interested in accessibility of Shark Ninja products respectuffly and appropriately  contact Sr. Vice President  Stodolka and advocate for making the above-named app accessible.  I believe advocacy and potential legal action if advocacy fails are the only two ways we can make manufacturers of products provide accessibility to those of us with visual and other impairments.  The current legal opinion seems to be that app accessibility is a legal requirement under Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act.  I would also appreciate any resources available to me in the Twin Cities, MN that I might use to facilitate making this app accessible reasonably soon.

Thank You,


Mike Hanson

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