Will do, Pat, and thanks much for sending this along.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Pat Byrne
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 10:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: OT regarding making home appliances accessible

Tom,
Look at
envisionamerica.com
to see what they are doing about prescription identification.  It used to be
Scriptalk which spoke the labels that a pharmacist would put on scrip.
bottles.  Now it looks as though there might be more to it.  I have had
Envision America at my annual Visually Impaired Awareness Day and they seem
like a company that really "gets it" and are trying to find answers.  And of
course now there are a variety of Iphone apps. that address some of our
needs.  Not all of them God knows, but there are things happening out there.
Pat, K9JAUAt 07:23 PM 3/13/2014, you wrote:
>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.