Category: Let's talk
Hello all,
My apartment does not have an accessible thermostat; this one is digital, and I cannot see the current temperature. I would like to get either a WiFI one, or just a standard talking one. However, since my roommates are sighted, I want to know if the regular talking ones feature a display?
Since it is the responsibility of the apartment to at least get this unit for me, I checked with the office. The person I spoke with, who in turn, talked to their manager, said that they could get the thermostat for me, but then I would have to reimburse them for the cost of it. Is this against the law? Because, in the Fair Housing Act, it says that 2% of your units, whichever is greater, have to be accessible for blind visually impaired customers, or people with hearing disabilities. Serious discussion only. I just want advice on what to do. My friend didn't have to pay for her thermostat, and her apartment bought it for her. I am considered low-income, too.
Thanks,
Nathan.
On if they should pay for it, I suppose that is how you look at it.
The apartment is technically accessible, just not this one item. You may not know the exact temp, but you can learn to turn it up, or down by counting how many button presses you go.
All is required is an agreement with your roommates to tell you where it is before they leave you alone.
You could also learn to work the air, or heating. That be based on how hot, or cold you felt.
Technically, it is doable.
Now, because you'd like something specific, and that cost is not high, if they are only charging you the cost of the unit, not installation, I'd say it be kind of a help them help you, or make you more comfortable specificly.
You buy the unit, they install and make sure it work properly. A win, win situation.
If you look around the complete place, there are plenty other items you don't know exactly what the settings are. The oven, stove burners, water heater temp, you get the picture. Why be difficult if you can work out a middle ground?
If you were asked, was your home you live in away from school completely accessible to a T, what would be that answer?
That answer would be "no." But, I am just wondering why the apartment would make me reimburse them. If I can pay for it overtime, then it wouldn't be a bad deal.
Nathan, the apartment probably wants you to reimburse them cause you would be putting in equipment that wasn't originally in the apartment to begin with.
renting is much different than owning, cause when you rent, you can't exactly do whatever you want, however you want, whenever you want. at least, not without express permission, or perhaps even a fee.
that being said, there are companies who make thermastats that can be controlled with iPhones. however, I don't know enough about them to say any more.
Thankss, I really don't care if it's controlled with an IPhone, or if it just talks. Under the Fair Housing Act, there is a section, entitled "Reasonable Structural Modifications." In this part of the law, it says "That apartments must be accessible after March 13, 1991. The link is here:
http://www.myfairhousing.org/yourrights.html#Reasonable_Modifications_
It's so vague though, that I'm not sure what everything means.
Okay. Lets look at it this way.
Why does it have to talk? What if they replaced it with one that has a slider on it?
They have others that have round nobs you can turn.
The type I'm speaking of will cost around 40 dollars or less.
Does your place have central air?
They work like this. When you want air, you click the switch up. Heat, you click it down.
Now, you have a slide, or nob you turn. That slid, or nob can has a dot on it, so you know were 70 is on the scale. Dots can be put at each 10 degree interval.
Would you say, this was accessible?
That site does say something about "At disabled person's expense." I'm not a lawyer, so I have no idea what that 1991 deadline covers.
We have one of those digital thermostats at our rental condo, and I have no idea if I'm being unreasonably hot or cold. I'd like to be able to set my temp to 72, but I have no idea what it's on right now, or if one of the buttons might not register when I hit it. Someone could tell me what it's set on, but I have way too much crap to keep up with in my brain to remember the new temperature each time I change it, and again, the possibility of a button not registering the hit.
If I were buying a talking thermostat (a dream of mine), I'd say, "Sure guys, I'll totally pay for it... but I'm taking it with me when I move out." That site did mention something about restoring the place for the next tennent.
Sliders have the same problem of not being totally accurate. Had one. Used it for an oil furnace. Hated it. If I'm buying a new thermostat anyhow, it's going to talk to me baby.
Yes, Forreel, this is somewhat accessible, and would meet my standards.
Nathan, you still haven't answered the question of why you need it to be accessible.
it's impossible for me to tell what the temperature on mine is set at, but there's a switch that either turns on the AC, turns off the AC, and also turns on the heat. then, there's another switch that either turns on the fan, or puts everything on auto.
so, what I'm saying, is, it's possible to learn to work with what you have, especially since, living in an apartment, it isn't recommended that you change things of that nature.
Hello:
Just to answer some questions here:
The apartment complex will purchase the accessible thermostat for me, will not charge me installation, and I can divide the payments into 3 payments. Plus, I can take it with me if I change apartments. Considering all this, it's a good deal. I want one that is accessible, because I should be able to independently work my thermostat and have tactile or speech feedback. So, now, what are some good accessible ones?
Okay, I see you aren't after it for the gadget reasons.
I asked my questions, because if you were wanting them to pay, I couldn't see that, because this is a tem place.
You might be in there until end of November, and never return. They don't know.
So, I felt, you could probably learn to use what was available now.
Now, that you've got something worked out, what is your budget?
The type I explained to you, would cost like I said, no more then 40 dollars.
If you got better, you'll need to make sure your room mates can use it as well. What I mean, is it shouldn't be attached to say your iPhone, or something, but one that can be used on site.
Give me a budget, and I'll tell you what I think.
A trip to your local home store could settle this easy as well. Have someone take you over to see what will work.
Hey,
Got one. I got the HoneyWell Wi-Fi model, which can also be adjusted and seen with it's touch screen, but is also accessible using voice Control (or talking to the unit) or by an IPhone.
Thanks,
Nathan. They will let me bring the thermostat with me, wherever I move to.
Cool..