A report from ABC News says:

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is warning that new technology for home appliances is becoming harder for people with disabilities to access.

The report says small buttons on remote controls, heavy oven doors, and touch-operated devices, are some of the features that render appliances unusable for about 20 per cent of the population.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes says keeping disabilities in mind when designing products is crucial for an ageing population.

“What we need to do is build some partnerships so that everyone is included in the design of products, and not just someone who either has a problem seeing or manipulating or hearing,” he said.