[NFBWATlk] Inaccessible Washer and Dryer: How to Deal with It

Sun Apr 5 00:08:08 UTC 2026

How frustrating! Our dishwasher is similarly sensitive, but if you can manage to make the setting you want be the last one you touch, it ignores all previous unwanted touches and just goes with the last one. You hit start and it begins to do the last thing you told it to do. It sounds as though your washer and dryer are considerably more complex.
We never used to even consider the idea that an apartment would be inaccessible to a blind person. Now, with these inaccessible appliances, what used to be simple has become much more difficult. We are making great strides forward, but in this kind of situation we are sliding backward.
This is not the regulatory environment to push for things we want, but I hope that someday it will be illegal to sell inaccessible appliances. We can only hope. Mary Ellen.
Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 4, 2026, at 4:22 PM, Chris Higley via NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Do you know if they have an app that might be accessible with your phone?
> 
> Chris H
> 
>> On Apr 4, 2026, at 2:20 PM, Kaye Kipp via NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Oh gee! I'm so sorry. I wish I could come  up with a better idea.
>> 
>> Kaye
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Humberto via NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: Saturday, April 04, 2026 11:44 AM
>> To: Kaye Kipp via NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
>> CC: Humberto <humberto_avila.it104 at outlook.com>
>> Subject: Re: [NFBWATlk] Inaccessible Washer and Dryer: How to Deal with It
>> 
>> Kay,
>> 
>> 
>> This does not make sense, because even trying to feel where the dots are
>> on the machine will cause setting-change sounds to be heard, and this
>> can only mean one thing: This stupid machine is that sensitive, even
>> when I hover over something by a mere fraction of an inch! they are
>> designed to be looked at and point-and-click by a sighted person, not
>> being felt and touched by a blind person in my humble opinion.
>> 
>> Last night I was washing my towells, and I do what I have usually done:
>> press the power button where there is a bump dot that my lovely sister
>> placed near, and then went around to feel where there is another bump
>> dot near the right hand corner of the device to find the start button
>> which I am support to hold down by 3 seconds, and all foa sudden, my
>> towells not only came out after many many hours, but they also appeared
>> to be very very wet still! UUUGH So frustrating!
>> 
>> I have been using these methods to get around my machines, but it semes
>> tough there are many times where I have to spend hours and hours on end
>> with AIRA and Be My Eyes, I even ended up purchasing into an AIRA
>> Explorer subscription even though I really can't afford it. Last night
>> thankfully someone at AIRA helped me set my machines to the desired
>> "Normal" settings I wanted for my wash cycles.
>> 
>> My dryer is a different story because sometimes clothes come out cold
>> and soggy,  sometimes they come out very hot and scalding
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my thunderbird Mail, proudly running on Linux!!!
>> 
>>>> On 4/4/26 08:47, Kaye Kipp via NFBWATlk wrote:
>>> Can you have someone put those little bump dots just to the side so you can find where the setting is then move over and touch the setting you want? Does that make sense?
>>> 
>>> Kaye
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Humberto Avila via NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Date: Friday, April 03, 2026 08:51 PM
>>> To: "nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
>>> CC: Humberto Avila <humberto_avila.it104 at outlook.com>
>>> Subject: [NFBWATlk] Inaccessible Washer and Dryer: How to Deal with It
>>> 
>>> Good evening folks,
>>> Does anybody on here have any bold and courageous ideas on how I can deal with either using a fully-operating touchscreen washer / dryer combo or where to direct my landlord on replacing my washer / dryer units with more accessible ones?
>>> Despite trying to overlay my current units, I am having many laundry mishaps because these things are simply too touch sensitive. I just moved into my new apartment a month ago and it cames with these very inaccessible machines.
>>> Thanks!
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>> 
>> 
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