Dear AccessWorld readers,
As our regular readers know, AccessWorld has covered home appliance accessibility in the past, and when we speak of technology, home appliances and home automation are becoming more and more a part of that conversation. Readers regularly comment on these articles in AccessWorld and ask for more on the topic. In direct response to those comments, later this year and next year, AccessWorld will be looking more frequently at home appliance accessibility and home automation from the perspectives of people who are blind and people who have low vision. We will cover features such as tactilely discernable controls, audible tones, font size and style of control labeling, color contrast, glare, and the positioning of controls. We will also report on app-controlled home environment and appliance options as well as emerging uses for the Amazon Echo and Google Home. AccessWorld staff hopes this will provide useable information for our readers and guidance when purchasing home appliances. So, stay tuned.
As I'm sure you have all noticed, the days are now growing noticeably shorter. Students have returned to school, and it's now a logical time to begin thinking about work and careers. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and next month AccessWorld will recognize its observance by taking a closer look at employment resources for people with vision loss as well as by revisiting tried and true job search strategies. Of course, we will also be looking at technology to support and enhance your career and work life. As employment is such a critical issue for people with vision loss, the October issue will be an expanded issue with more articles and information than usual.
The AccessWorld team hopes you will read each article in this and every issue to gain as much access information as possible. As technology is always advancing, we encourage you to stay proactive in seeking out new access strategies that may better meet your situation.
Sincerely,
Lee Huffman
AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief
American Foundation for the Blind
