The modern appliance market is a hellscape for people with visual impairments

I was browsing through new offerings of washers and dryers this morning, as I often do just for the heck of it. Even though I'm off the market for now it's still fascinating to see what's out there and to keep an ear out if I should need new again any time down the road. What I've found is just as discouraging as ever in terms of non-visual accessibility, and this trend has been growing more and more prominent as the years tick by.

When people ask me why I tend to stick to older appliances, especially washers and dryers, I tell them that it's not an aversion to modern tech, and I really don't think it is. What I've noticed is that there are two classes of appliances that could be used by me non-visually. The first is the bottom-of-the-barrel crappy VMW machines that will last a pitifully short amount of time. I actually think the dual-action-agitator VMW machines clean well, but those are being discontinued as far as I am aware. All of the replacements, like the new Amana that replaced the 4516, are the agipeller design that just don't do a very good job washing clothes. So I turn to front loaders, and it would seem that the only ones I could even begin to use are the ones like LG's moderately expensive turbo wash models that can be remote-controlled via an app. It would seem that one almost has to have the app in order to use the appliance, because the panel is a flat touch screen and only beeps when pressed. There is no way for someone like me to keep track of variations like different soil levels, temperatures, and spin speeds, because they all sound the exact same. Even if I were to put braille labels on or under the buttons, I would have to commit a lot to memory, like how many presses of a button to get to hot, for instance, and that requires even more memorization on top of that of knowing where each cycle starts as its defaults, and every cycle's defaults are slightly different. Shew! It overloads my brain just thinking about it. I watched a blind lady's Youtube video where she did manage to get the LG app to work with her washer, but I'm reaching a point about the app thing. Not all touch screen washers have reliably accessible apps.

When Whirlpool's Duet line of washers was in full production, there was accessibility built into those machines. I know this because in 2007, I was attending visual rehab training at a local blindness center and they had a Duet washer and dryer set on premises that was very easy to use. A main cycle dial that clicked as it was moved from cycle to cycle, easy to feel push buttons in a logical arrangement next to the cycle dial, and variable tones as you went through spin speed, soil level, etc made this machine remarkably accessible for an electronic washer. When Whirlpool discontinued the Duet line, as far as I know they also discontinued the accessibility features to a degree. For example, on the WFW6620 washer, there is no clicking dial, and the tones do not change in pitch as one moves through the options -- it's just the same beep no matter which button is pushed, so we as blind people have now lost the ability to keep track of where we are when making cycle modifications. I can't understand why they made this change when they discontinued the Duet washers and why it was such a hardship to at least keep the accessible audible tones in place, even with getting rid of the clicking dial.

People have nudged me to just buy a Speed Queen and get it over with, but most blind people don't have that type of money just floating around. I will acknowledge that the SQ is probably the most user-friendly washer on the market, even there electronic machines are logically set up and could be figured out by someone with no vision, as I've done it before in community laundry setups. However, what I'm getting at is that for most consumers, the medium range product, not the most expensive but not the most el-cheapo tin can either, is usually the best choice, and for people like me, the mid-range is where accessibility falls flat. Those products are just high up enough in the line-up to have the touch screen controls, but not high up enough to have a reliable app and full remote control capability, so we have to shell out the cash for something like a Speed Queen even though we really can't, or settle for what would now be one of the crappy agipeller washers that don't clean worth a damn and won't last long either. It's very unfortunate.

There is one manufacturer who seems to get it, and that's Samsung. From what I see online, most of their washers and dryers now have the accessible tones when setting cycle modifications, much like the WP Duet's used to. As you cycle through the different options, a pattern of ascending tones indicates you are moving higher up the list of options, i.e., higher spin speed, hotter water, heavier soil. A quick descending tone means you turned an option like extra rinse off, and vice versa. The washer beeps twice once you have turned the dial back to normal, so it's very easy to keep track of where you are on the dial as well. But...Samsung sucks in every other way. A blind person would be tempted to buy a Samsung product based on the accessibility alone, in fact I was tempted earlier last year, but they have such mixed reviews as far as functionality and reliability are concerned that it just wouldn't seem worth the risk.

So, what's a blind person to do, you ask? Well in my case, it's stick my head in the sand, keep repairing my old direct drive with an easy-to-use mechanical timer, and hope that the state of things becomes more inclusive someday.

Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

Ryne


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Post# 1171501 2/7/2023 at 11:33 (436 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)
Checkrate/Likes 3 I was browsing through new offerings of washers and dryers this morning, as I often do just for the heck of it. Even though I'm off the market for now it's still fascinating to see what's out there and to keep an ear out if I should need new again any time down the road. What I've found is just as discouraging as ever in terms of non-visual accessibility, and this trend has been growing more and more prominent as the years tick by. When people ask me why I tend to stick to older appliances, especially washers and dryers, I tell them that it's not an aversion to modern tech, and I really don't think it is. What I've noticed is that there are two classes of appliances that could be used by me non-visually. The first is the bottom-of-the-barrel crappy VMW machines that will last a pitifully short amount of time. I actually think the dual-action-agitator VMW machines clean well, but those are being discontinued as far as I am aware. All of the replacements, like the new Amana that replaced the 4516, are the agipeller design that just don't do a very good job washing clothes. So I turn to front loaders, and it would seem that the only ones I could even begin to use are the ones like LG's moderately expensive turbo wash models that can be remote-controlled via an app. It would seem that one almost has to have the app in order to use the appliance, because the panel is a flat touch screen and only beeps when pressed. There is no way for someone like me to keep track of variations like different soil levels, temperatures, and spin speeds, because they all sound the exact same. Even if I were to put braille labels on or under the buttons, I would have to commit a lot to memory, like how many presses of a button to get to hot, for instance, and that requires even more memorization on top of that of knowing where each cycle starts as its defaults, and every cycle's defaults are slightly different. Shew! It overloads my brain just thinking about it. I watched a blind lady's Youtube video where she did manage to get the LG app to work with her washer, but I'm reaching a point about the app thing. Not all touch screen washers have reliably accessible apps. When Whirlpool's Duet line of washers was in full production, there was accessibility built into those machines. I know this because in 2007, I was attending visual rehab training at a local blindness center and they had a Duet washer and dryer set on premises that was very easy to use. A main cycle dial that clicked as it was moved from cycle to cycle, easy to feel push buttons in a logical arrangement next to the cycle dial, and variable tones as you went through spin speed, soil level, etc made this machine remarkably accessible for an electronic washer. When Whirlpool discontinued the Duet line, as far as I know they also discontinued the accessibility features to a degree. For example, on the WFW6620 washer, there is no clicking dial, and the tones do not change in pitch as one moves through the options -- it's just the same beep no matter which button is pushed, so we as blind people have now lost the ability to keep track of where we are when making cycle modifications. I can't understand why they made this change when they discontinued the Duet washers and why it was such a hardship to at least keep the accessible audible tones in place, even with getting rid of the clicking dial. People have nudged me to just buy a Speed Queen and get it over with, but most blind people don't have that type of money just floating around. I will acknowledge that the SQ is probably the most user-friendly washer on the market, even there electronic machines are logically set up and could be figured out by someone with no vision, as I've done it before in community laundry setups. However, what I'm getting at is that for most consumers, the medium range product, not the most expensive but not the most el-cheapo tin can either, is usually the best choice, and for people like me, the mid-range is where accessibility falls flat. Those products are just high up enough in the line-up to have the touch screen controls, but not high up enough to have a reliable app and full remote control capability, so we have to shell out the cash for something like a Speed Queen even though we really can't, or settle for what would now be one of the crappy agipeller washers that don't clean worth a damn and won't last long either. It's very unfortunate. There is one manufacturer who seems to get it, and that's Samsung. From what I see online, most of their washers and dryers now have the accessible tones when setting cycle modifications, much like the WP Duet's used to. As you cycle through the different options, a pattern of ascending tones indicates you are moving higher up the list of options, i.e., higher spin speed, hotter water, heavier soil. A quick descending tone means you turned an option like extra rinse off, and vice versa. The washer beeps twice once you have turned the dial back to normal, so it's very easy to keep track of where you are on the dial as well. But...Samsung sucks in every other way. A blind person would be tempted to buy a Samsung product based on the accessibility alone, in fact I was tempted earlier last year, but they have such mixed reviews as far as functionality and reliability are concerned that it just wouldn't seem worth the risk. So, what's a blind person to do, you ask? Well in my case, it's stick my head in the sand, keep repairing my old direct drive with an easy-to-use mechanical timer, and hope that the state of things becomes more inclusive someday. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk. Ryne

Post# 1171539 , Reply# 1 2/7/2023 at 18:14 (436 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Ryne,* Does the Americans with Disabilities Act not give you any leverage with appliance manufacturers? Especially in the case of Whirlpool, who loves to flaunt their 'Made in America' claim? lawrence

Post# 1171552 , Reply# 2 2/7/2023 at 21:31 (436 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)
Checkrate/Likes Lawrence, I do not believe the ADA covers appliances, but I could be wrong. I'll have to look more into that. There are a heck of a lot of inaccessible appliances out there so it must be an exception somehow.

Post# 1171585 , Reply# 3 2/8/2023 at 09:20 (435 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Ryne,* I realize that the ADA addresses the built environment, but it would seem that passing a legislation like that would indicate that we as a nation (if not as a society), have reached a point where we are willing to acknowledge that people with disabilities are still people and are just as entitled to access to buildings; but should also acknowledge the same right to manufactured items/products. If you haven't already, you might try reaching out to Whirlpool's marketing people and make a case for more sensitivity to folks dealing with handicaps. You have nothing to lose. lawrence

Post# 1171602 , Reply# 4 2/8/2023 at 15:16 (435 days old) by DADoES (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes 2 � Sears/Kenmore and possibly Whirlpool had Braille overlays for some control panels in the past.� Perhaps a call to customer service would reveal if any such are available for current models ... although of course, as discussed, some control designs aren't conducive to it.� It's unconscionable that manufacturers and engineer-designers seemingly make little to no effort to accommodate those consumers.

Post# 1171617 , Reply# 5 2/8/2023 at 18:07 (435 days old) by Pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)
Checkrate/Likes *ryner1988* if you could afford shipping from a Canadian store to your home would you buy a washer like this if you needed to replace your current washer? www.econopluselectromenag... View Full Size

Post# 1171634 , Reply# 6 2/8/2023 at 18:43 (435 days old) by DADoES (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes 4 � Pierre, why would he do that?� The Inglis and his current machine are both Whirlpool direct-drive design, so what would be the difference?

Post# 1171642 , Reply# 7 2/8/2023 at 18:56 (435 days old) by Pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)
Checkrate/Likes thats just in case he would need a replacement or donor machine for parts sorry dadoes

Post# 1171654 , Reply# 8 2/8/2023 at 19:56 (435 days old) by ryner1988 (Indianapolis)
Checkrate/Likes My current washer had considerable work done to it over Christmas, so I'm hoping it will be in service for a few years or more. I just like to look around sometimes even though I'm not currently buying anything, just to see what's out there. Glenn, I believe Whirlpool does not make the overlays anymore, or at least they had no idea what I was talking about when I inquired about it back in 2015 or so. You're right, it's a real shame. I know Whirlpool at least can do better, because they used to do better.

Post# 1171738 , Reply# 9 2/9/2023 at 22:30 (434 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)
Checkrate/Likes *blind while doing laundry* It's a shame that a lot of manufacturers are blatantly disregarding blind people who need to do laundry or just assume we can all use apps or that are sighted counterparts do our laundry for us. What are they thinking?

Post# 1171816 , Reply# 10 2/10/2023 at 17:46 (433 days old) by WindRivers (Wind River Range, WY)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *What are they thinking?* Undoubtedly they're thinking entirely about profits, what designs the majority of consumers will be interested in, and they probably consider those with disabilities not large enough part of their base to care about, if they think about it at all. Just like they don't care much about those who want a durable product that will last, because they don't see it as profitable to build them. But I wonder; if they were to spend a fraction to design products to make them more accessible that they spend on advertising, would they earn more goodwill from consumers, even those without impairments, than they do spending the money solely on marketing? Sort of like companies that advertise how much they give to charity because it's supposed to give people a favorable sense of their values. Maybe if they would show their values in the products they design to make them more accessible to those who need them.

Post# 1171817 , Reply# 11 2/10/2023 at 17:58 (433 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )
Checkrate/Likes The LG app is harder to use than the control panel which itself is difficult to read on their front loaders even for a sighted person. Actually I can't figure out how a blind person could use the phone app as they are touch screen and no sounds at all.

Post# 1171822 , Reply# 12 2/10/2023 at 18:47 (433 days old) by John76 (USA)
Checkrate/Likes My Speed Queen TR5003 would be pretty easy to operate. I basically use two different cycles, auto fill and warm. The knobs and buttons are easy to locate and operate.

Post# 1171860 , Reply# 13 2/11/2023 at 00:31 (433 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)
Checkrate/Likes *lg washer and the blind* My mom's lg washer and dryer have buttons and a dial in a logical order. I like that when you press power and turn the dial once, it goes to normal considering that's the home cycle that is used most often. The cycles are lit clearly.