[Electronics-Talk] Accessible Microwaves Are Becoming a Thing of the Past

Sun Oct 16 02:03:09 UTC 2016

Annette,

This is a situation I worry about too. Currently, our microwave is an old GE 
one and it is a flat pannel; but I labeled it with dimo tape and its then 
accessible since the buttons do not change function when you press them. 
Most appliances though now do have touch screen buttons which change 
functions so you have to read the display to operate it.

When I live on my own, I'm rather concerned about accessibility.
I believe that stand alone microwaves are still accessible, but you said you 
do not have room for that.
I also know there are stand alone talking microwaves, still.
My advice would be to see if you can get the store reps to connect models to 
electricity so you can try them out. If that is not possible, get one you 
think will work, and return it if it does not. Perhaps asking our chapter 
president and members around here for models that work for them might help. 
Also, maybe, AFB has an answer.

I was also shocked at the reality of appliance inaccessibility  when I saw 
the new appliances in my brother's home when we visited him in MA. Like you, 
I'm starting to see newer appliances at people's houses and see a very 
disturbing trend.
Can you believe a refrigerator, a thing to keep your items cool, can be 
rendered inaccessible? I mean, it’s a darn refrigerator!
Well, indeed it can. Sure I can open it and fetch items from it, but any 
changes to it are not accessible. To change its temperature level,  get ice 
or water, etc, you need to see a touch screen. This digital touch screen is 
flat and changes display upon touching it.
You said
"I've been to people's houses who have newer appliances and if you 
accidently
touch the panel you can change all types of settings.

I am finding this very disturbing that manufacturers have been allowed to
get to the point of producing complete lines of appliances that cannot be
operated by a person who is blind.  "

I agree! My in law came rushing into the kitchen when I accidently touched a 
refrigerator pannel button.
She said be careful because if I touched many buttons, it would change the 
temperature, shut the lights off or more issues.
I had to have help heating up something in my brother's home due to this 
very problem.
You have to touch buttons with various settings. Its fancy and even sighted 
people had to explore it and think before operating it.
Electronics are changing to fancy things with flat controls, and its getting 
bad for us.

When I enter other people's homes with new appliances, I feel my 
independence is being taken away. Not that I know how to cook much, but I 
would like to help myself to leftovers by nuking it in a microwave or 
grabbing a cold drink with ice from the refrigerator/freezer combo.
Its pretty bad when we cannot do simple things anymore.
Oh, yeah, air conditioners. I cannot operate most air conditioners either in 
hotels. I have to use a reader for that.

II think someone needs to draft several resolutions concerning appliances at 
the next convention.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Annette Carr via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2016 9:24 PM
To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
Cc: Annette Carr
Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Accessible Microwaves Are Becoming a Thing of 
the Past

Hello Everyone,

Last weekend our 11 year old Over the range microwave stopped working.  I
knew the search for a new one would not be easy, but I was not prepared for
what I am finding.  My first disappointment was that there are no
microwave-convection combination units for over the range that are
accessible.  They either use a heat sensitive touch panel or a knob that
displays its results in a digital display.  So I re-grouped and figured I
would have to stick with just an over the range  microwave.  I have called
GE, Whirlpool/Kitchen Aid, and LG.  None of their phone reps can direct me
to a model that is accessible.  They recommended that I visit my local
stores and try out the various models in the stores.

We have visited Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, H H Greg and Best Buy.  None of
these stores have electricity connected to the microwaves so it is not
possible to test them.  None of the sales reps in the store know anything
more than what is written on the display paper work.

The online research that we have done makes reference to the control panels
of today being heat sensitive, feather-touch sensitive, Smart touch, etc.
When we look at the control panels in the store they feel like flat glass.
I've been to people's houses who have newer appliances and if you accidently
touch the panel you can change all types of settings.

I am finding this very disturbing that manufacturers have been allowed to
get to the point of producing complete lines of appliances that cannot be
operated by a person who is blind.  Eleven years ago when we purchased the
current appliances in our kitchen there were limited options.  Last April
when I purchased a replacement dishwasher we ended up purchasing one I can
start, but have no way to confirm what it is set on.  Now we cannot find a
replacement microwave.  While at the stores, upon a quick look around we did
not see a gas range with an accessible  oven control.  They all looked
exactly like the ones we were seeing on the microwaves.  Now remember, We
had not done any research on these products, and there is no power connected
to the ranges.  So we cannot be sure about what we were looking at.
However, if the state of microwaves is any indication of where manufacturers
are going with their control panels, we are in serious trouble.  The bottom
line is something has to be done before we lose our independence in the
kitchen.  Well, I guess if you can live on cold cereal and sandwiches, you
will be fine.

Please do not provide me with makes and models of counter top microwaves
that you have found accessible.  I have no choice but to purchase an over
the range microwave even if it is not accessible.  This appliance
incorporates the exhaust fan for the stove.  In addition, we have no
available counter space for a microwave.  If you have purchased an over the
range microwave within the past year that you have found the control panel
to be accessible after adding your own labels/marks, please provide me with
the make and model, as there is a slight chance that I might still be able
to find it.

What I want is to find a way to make these manufacturers understand the
importance of universal design.  They need to stop producing products that
cannot be controlled by the blind.

Annette

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