[Nfbnet-members-list] FW: statement

[Gary Wunder]

From: Gene Fleeman [mailto:gfleeman55 at gmail.com]


Hi everyone,
I've started the petition "Association of Home 
Appliance Manufacturers: Incorporate voice 
technology, audio queues, and/or tactile buttons 
into your flat panel appliances to make them 
accessible to the blind and those with low 
vision." Thanks to 500 supporters, the petition 
is off to a good start. But to really make a 
statement to the Appliance Manufacturers of how 
important this issue is to those with sight 
impairment, I need your support to make the 
number of signatures to grow exponentially! Lets 
join together to make our voices heard.
Thank you,

Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link:

<http://www.change.org/petitions/association-of-home-appliance-manufacturers-incorporate-voice-technology-audio-queues-and-or-tactile-buttons-into-your-flat-panel-appliances-to-make-them-accessible-to-the-blind-and-those-with-low-vision?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created>http://www.change.org/petitions/association-of-home-appliance-manufacturers-incorporate-voice-technology-audio-queues-and-or-tactile-buttons-into-your-flat-panel-appliances-to-make-them-accessible-to-the-blind-and-those-with-low-vision 


Here's why it's important:
I started this petition on Change.org, because of 
the perceived lack of demand, appliance 
manufacturers have been reluctant to build 
inexpensive voice/touch technology into their 
products, thereby making them inaccessible to the 
blind.  There are approximately seven million 
blind or low-vision people living in the United 
States today, and that number is growing every 
day, due to causes ranging from birth defects, 
diabetes, to combat injuries, etc.  We clean, do 
laundry, iron, sew, and travel independently. We 
are foodservice managers, attorneys, scientists 
and more.  And yet, when it comes to operating 
our touch panel home appliances we are 
practically helpless.  Why?, because appliance 
manufacturers refuse to incorporate inexpensive 
technology that already exists­such as those used 
in smartphones and iPads that make their flat 
panel appliances accessible to the blind.
By including audio cues, speech output, or 
tactile buttons, manufacturers will reduce the 
likelihood that a blind or sighted person will 
inadvertently touch a spot on a panel and turn on 
a burner without knowing it, potentially causing 
a fire or serious personal injury. Without 
accessible technology being offered to consumers, 
people who were once able to cook and clean 
independently could well find themselves unable 
to live alone in their own homes.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! If 
manufacturers incorporate inexpensive audio 
and/or tactile technology into their products, 
they will make a huge difference in the safety of 
the blind and others as well as the ability of 
the blind to continue to lead their lives 
independently, while simultaneously gaining 
thousands, if not millions, of newly satisfied 
customers. This is good for blind people who will 
remain independent; good for manufacturers who 
will sell products that the blind can use and 
that are safer for all who buy them; and good for 
society, which will not be asked to help normally 
competent human beings live in assisted living or 
nursing facilities simply because new appliances 
do not have displays they can read.
By signing our petition, you will be showing your 
support and telling the Association of Home 
Appliance Manufacturers to work in collaboration 
with the National Federation of the Blind to get 
their manufacturer members to incorporate these 
immeasurable improvements in the quality of life, 
convenience, and safety of the blind and those who are losing their vision.
Again thank you for your support,
Gene Fleeman
Member,
National Federation of the Blind

Wondering what to do with your old car or truck? 
Donating your vehicle to the National Federation 
of the Blind is convenient and may qualify you 
for a tax deduction. Call 
<tel:1-855-659-9314>1-855-659-9314 or visit 
<http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org>www.carshelpingtheblind.org 
Your donation can take the blind further.



-- 
Gene Fleeman

Wondering what to do with your old car or truck? 
Donating your vehicle to the National Federation 
of the Blind is convenient and may qualify you 
for a tax deduction. Call 1-855-659-9314 or visit 
<http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org>www.carshelpingtheblind.org 
Your donation can take the blind further.
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