When you're on the trainer, practice moving your hand down to the lower part of the bar near the shifter. Then feel the shifter with the palm of your hand. It's now uncommon for me to shift with my hand on the lower part of the bars. There ARE drop bars with less "drop" (the bottoms are closer to the top). That might help - but I really think this is something you can get used to. I just checked my position on the bike, and when the cranks are level, (not at the top of the stroke - mid range), the shifters are below my knee.

Good luck!