[nfb-talk] Inaccessible appliances!

Tue Feb 21 13:25:12 UTC 2012

Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Michael D. Barber
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 6:53 AM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Inaccessible appliances!

The proposed act does exactly that.  Please read below:

The Home Appliance Accessibility Act

Digital technology has improved the ease and efficiency of the way we live
our lives-but now blind people can no longer operate most fundamental home
appliances.

Home appliance manufacturers are constantly incorporating advanced
technology into their products.  Most new stoves, dishwashers, washing
machines, and other home appliances require interaction with digital
displays, flat panels, touch screens, and other user interfaces that are
inaccessible to people who are blind or have low vision.  Knobs, buttons,
and other tactile methods of use are disappearing.  

Technology exists to make home appliances accessible to blind people.
Manufacturers often claim nonvisual access cannot be achieved, but
text-to-speech technology is inexpensive and more prevalent than it has ever
been-Apple has incorporated VoiceOver (a text-to-speech function) into its
touch-screen products, making the iPhone, iPod, and iPad fully accessible to
blind people right out of the box.  All ATMs manufactured in the United
States are accessible, and every polling place provides a nonvisually
accessible voting machine.  Frequently, a simple audio output or
vibrotactile feature can make a product fully accessible at minimal cost, as
well as more dynamic and appealing for all users.  

Unfortunately most manufacturers refuse to incorporate nonvisual access
technology in their products.  Companies claim that adding accessibility
features is too expensive, but no public data demonstrate that claim.
Furthermore, it is proven to be more cost effective to include accessibility
features during the design phase rather than after, but manufacturers
generally do not invest in this approach.  Simply put, if companies include
access technology in the design of home appliances, they will sell more
products.  

No laws exist to require companies to make home appliances accessible.
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act and many other laws mandate
physical accessibility for people with disabilities (e.g., wheelchair ramps,
Braille in public buildings), no laws protect blind consumers' right to
access to fundamental home appliances.  This trend of inaccessibility will
continue to grow as technology becomes more advanced and accessibility
solutions are ignored.  

The Home Appliance Accessibility Act:  

Calls on the Access Board to conduct a study.  The Access Board (a small
government agency fully equipped with the resources to review the current
marketplace, consult with stakeholders, and commission research on issues of
access) will issue a report with findings and recommendations for a minimum
nonvisual access standard for home appliances and at-home medical equipment.

Establishes a minimum nonvisual access standard for home appliances.  Six
months after the Access Board publishes the above-mentioned report, the
Board will begin a rulemaking period, not to exceed 36 months, to establish
a minimum nonvisual access standard for home appliances.  The final standard
will go into effect three years after the rule is finalized.  

Gives the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce the standard.
Having already been given consumer protection enforcement powers by
Congress, the FTC will handle violations, conduct investigations, and levy
civil penalties against manufacturers who fail to comply with the standard.

Provides flexibility to manufacturers.  The legislation does not mandate a
single, one-size-fits-all solution for all products.  Additionally,
manufacturers who can demonstrate that meeting a minimum nonvisual access
standard creates an undue burden and companies with gross annual sales less
than $250,000 are exempt from the law.  

END THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Sponsor the Home Appliance Accessibility Act

For more information contact:
Lauren McLarney, Government Programs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
Phone: (410) 659-9314, Extension 2207    E-mail: lmclarney at nfb.org

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Steven Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 5:51 AM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Inaccessible appliances!

Mike,
Although I have heard about this act, but I am curious as to why this has
not been addressed through the Access Board?

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 9:16 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Inaccessible appliances!

Joshua:

What planet are you living on? Why do you think the NFB is currently working
on getting the Home Appliance Accessibility Act introduced and passed? You
say you thought not having accessible apliances is illegal. What statute
makes it illegal? The ADA certainly doesn't apply since appliances are not a
program or service or place of public accommodation.

Sometimes I think the disabled have been hornswaggled -- or have
hornswaggled themselves -- into believing the ADA is almost as wonderful as
the Second Coming! 'Tain't so.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Joshua Lester
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 6:20 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: [nfb-talk] Inaccessible appliances!

Hi, it's Joshua Lester.
My microwave stopped working, a few weeks ago.
Now, my family has this inaccessible one, that has a touch screen.
I hate touch screens, on anything!
I heard, that Walmart sells an accessible microwave, called the Cook Magic.
I went to Walmart's Website, and they have it, but the store 30 miles away
from my hometown, doesn't have it.
The employees have never heard of it either.
I thought it was illegal, for companies to make inaccessible appliances!
What's the problem?
Why are stores still allowed to sell them?
Something's wrong with this!
Thanks, Joshua

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