Joyce (not her real name) appreciated the quick process and thoughtful service she received earlier this year from LCCAA’s Community Connections Program.
“It wasn’t just that I got a freezer,” she said. “It was that they cared enough to consider my situation.”
Community Connections assesses appliances for Ohio Edison customers. By replacing inefficient refrigerators and freezers, the program lowers energy costs for qualifying clients.
Living with a disability, Joyce took care to investigate the products available to her and conveyed her concerns to LCCAA’s program manager. Currently, the recommendations from the Americans with Disabilities Act encourage most manufacturers to integrate the handles into the doors. However, Joyce has severe arthritis which makes it difficult for her to operate those types of doors.
“I can’t do a lot of things with my hands,” she said. “I asked if I could get one with a handle.”
She had gone so far as to research how to modify the integrated handle to make it work for her when her new freezer was delivered. She was pleasantly surprised to find it had a handle and had been sized correctly for her limited space.
“The program came through and everything went wonderfully,” she added.
Ohio Edison customers qualify for Community Connections if they are living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. Renters can qualify if they own the appliances