[Off Topic] Thermostat for the Blind

[Greg Kearney]

I had to replace the thermostat in our house today so I went to Home  
Depot to try and find one my wife, who is blind, could use. Most  
Thermostats these days are high tech affairs with little LCD screens  
and buttons you can't tell if you have pressed or not.

But I did find, much to my amazement, was a Honeywell model CT87N.  
This thermostat was made for the blind and low vision users. It has a  
tactile readable setting with number in black 24 point type on white.  
When you turn it to set the temperature each two degree setting clicks  
as you turn the nob. It also come with large print stickers for the  
cool/off/heat and fan/auto switches.

Perhaps the most amazing of all there was a braille card in the  
packaging giving a toll free number to call to obtain a braille copy  
of the instructions.

So often we hear for product that are not accessible to the blind I  
find it refreshing to discover one that goes the extra mile to be  
accessible.

Greg Kearney