Actually, manufacturers have been listening for a very long time.  You are just looking at the wrong manufactures.  There are a multitude of manufactures out there that make products for the hearing impaired.  I know, as I am one of their customers.

Timers are available with visual (flashing light) or physical (vibrator) alarms.
You just need to know where to look.

~ Ford
-----
Ford M. Royer, MT(ASCP)
Analytical Instruments, Inc.
1200 Mendelssohn Ave, Ste. 50
Minneapolis, MN 55427
(800) 565-1895, Ext. 17

Vinnie Della Speranza wrote:

> If this is correct, this is MOST unfortunate. Manufacturers and distributors, are you listening??
> years ago I had a hearing impaired histotech who could only do stains with a timer that gave a distinct VISUAL cue to enable her to know the time had elapsed. The fancy electronic timers with distinctive tones will simply NOT be useful for handicapped individuals.
>
> Vinnie Della Speranza
> Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services
> Medical University of South Carolina
> 165 Ashley Avenue  Suite 309
> Charleston, SC 29425
> Ph: 843-792-6353
> fax: 843-792-8974
>
> >>> "Weems, Joyce"  11/02/01 08:33AM >>>
> I am told they are not manufactured any more. :>
> Joyce Weems
> Pathology Manager
> Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: Lee & Peggy Wenk [SMTP:lpwenk@mail.netquest.com]
>  Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 5:18 AM
>  To: Histonet
>  Subject: Need TIMER information
>
>  Histonetters and Vendors -
>
>  I need help finding the type of lab timers we like to use.
>  Can't seem to find them in any catalog.
>
>  They are a tan/gray, that wind up in the back.
>  It is NOT electronic. It is NOT an egg timer
>  type from then kitchen.
>
>  There are two "hands", the longer one for the
>  1 minute interval, the shorter one for the 10
>  minute interval.
>
>  It could be set for anywhere from 15 seconds to
>  120 minutes by turning the two hands around
>  and around the face of the "dial".
>
>  There is a handle on the right side in back, which
>  is pulled down to set the timer. It makes a loud
>  obnoxious ringing sounding when time is up.
>
>  There are no makings on the timers to indicate
>  who makes them, or the name of this item, or an
>  item number.
>
>  And I can't seem to find them in my catalogs.
>  And yet I ordered some about 5 years ago from
>  a histology catalog. Hopefully, they are still being
>  made, and the problem is that I just haven't
>  opened the right catalog yet.
>
>  Any and all help from this group is, as always,
>  appreciated.
>
>  Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
>  William Beaumont Hospital
>  Royal Oak, MI 48073