Tom, regarding labeling med's I think one of those bar code 
scanners would work, but then they aren't cheap.  Also, you have 
probably experienced telling the sales person or manager of the 
appliance store you were at about the lack of accessibility 
features and having be maybe sympathetic but at the same time you 
darn well knew that that's as far as it would go.  They would or 
couldn't put any pressure on companies to change a thing.  I hope 
that petition will attract enough signers to get someone's 
attention somewhere.  At least it's a start.  73, Jim WA6EKS

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Behler <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 20:23:14 -0400
Subject: Re: OT regarding making home appliances accessible

I know this is off topic, but it is important in my view.

Why is it that we sometimes feel steps toward accessibility are 
going
backward, rather than forward in some areas.

Over the past 4 years or so, my XYL and I have had to replace our 
washer,
our drier, and our dishwasher.

We looked at all the usual home appliance places, and all of the 
machines we
found are push-button and menu-driven.

With some creativity and resourcefulness, I have been able to 
figure out how
to operate these appliances independently by counting button 
presses,
listening to different beep pitches, etc., but it just seems to 
me that it
shouldn't be this difficult.

I'm always amazed that organizations like the NFB haven't been 
able to put
more pressure on manufacturers to make things more accessible, 
especially in
this day and age when the technology is clearly out there.

And, by this last remark, please know that I'm not casting 
aspersions at the
NFB.

I suspect that they have tried to have an impact, but apparently 
without
much success.

One other area that also has always urked me is the lack of 
attention paid
to providing assistance in labeling medications, both 
prescription and
over-the-counter, but that's another topic for another day.

Once again, I've taken on these tasks myself, but it just seems 
like there
should be another way.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators 
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of John Miller
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 5:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: OT regarding making home appliances accessible

My inlaws just got a new washer about 2 months ago.  It's not the 
old style
dials but it has the dials that click for load size, water temp, 
and mode,
cycle what ever you want to call it.  It would be easy to braille 
label, to
start it you just push a button.  I don't know what brand it is 
or anything
but I've used it with no labeling when I was helping them move.  
IF mine dies
I hope to find one just like it.