US to redesign currency to be used by the blind?
 

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the U.S. Treasury Department is violating the law by failing to design and issue currency that is readily distinguishable to blind and visually impaired people.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a 2006 district court ruling that could force the United States to redesign its money so blind people can distinguish between values.

Suggested solutions include making bills different sizes, including raised markings or using foil printing which is a method of hot stamping that is tactically discernable.

Judge Judith Rogers, in a ruling on a suit by the American Council of the Blind, wrote that the Treasury Department's failure to design and issue paper currency that is readily distinguishable to the visually impaired violates the Rehabilitation Act's guarantee of "meaningful access."

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was originally designed to extend civil rights to disabled individuals and provide them a full opportunity to participate in American society.

Rogers also wrote that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has not met his burden to show why changing the money would impose an undue burden.

"A large majority of other currency systems have accommodated the visually impaired, and the Secretary does not explain why U.S. currency should be any different," Rogers wrote in her ruling.

The euro, for example, is one currency designed to be more readily identifiable. Each banknote has a predominant color and large numbers to make them easier to see. Also, the larger the denomination of the euro, the larger the banknote.

"We are very pleased with the ruling," said a spokeswoman for the American Council of the Blind. "We are hopeful that the Treasury Department will now get busy and come up with a plan to make paper money more readily identifiable for the visually impaired people all over the world."

The Treasury Department was not immediately available for comment.

Paul Schroeder, vice president for programs and policy for American Foundation for the Blind, a nonprofit group based in New York, said he "would not be surprised" if the Treasury Department appealed the court's decision.

While Schroeder said it would be feasible to address this challenge, whatever solution is ultimately found must "work within a very substantial infrastructure" of U.S. currency.

The suit was originally filed in 2002 by the American Council of the Blind and two individuals with visual impairments, Patrick Sheehan and Otis Stephens.

The appeals court ruled 2-1, with Judge A. Raymond Randolph dissenting. Judge Thomas Griffith joined Rogers in voting to uphold the lower court ruling. To top of page

Now you can literally be robbed blind.

I think hand held scanners given to legally blind people would be more than a fair compromise :2 cents:

this shit has been going on for years

that would suck to have to carry around

Not as much as reprinting $10 Trillions :2 cents:

Aren't Canadian, Australian and I think the Euro notes all different sizes for different denominations? I've had perfectly seeing people from other countries ask how we keep our money figured out with it all being the same size, lol.

Canadian currency is all the same size.

Francs are different sizes.

Maybe it was British Pounds I was thinking of. I could have sworn Canadian notes were different sizes but I've been slightly drunk every time I've been in Canada, so that's probably why :)

I'll swear they aren't, I lived there for 20 years. Trust me.

What I dont get is this lawsuit has been going on for awhile and during that time they have come out with updated bills. How hard would it had been to add something so the blind could tell the difference?

Different sizes and colours in Australia. We also have plastic notes, and coins for $1 and $2.

When I was younger a blind guy came to our school to give a talk and answer questions from curious kids. He told us that once a shopkeeper deliberately shortchanged him, but another customer noticed and called him out. (Is business really that bad that you're willing to rob a blind man for an extra $20?) After that he bought a little device that measures the size of the notes.

As one of the resident gimps around here I must say Fucking blind people.

I have so had it with these sniveling lil assclowns who always need more and other special shit. I am still pissed to no end that the "blind" get a fucking tax deduction for being blind, wtf is up with that shit. Yes a single blind person gets a 1,300.00 windfall over the standard deduction and if they are married its 2,100.00. If they are married and both blind then hey they get 4,200.00 and if your also head of household well whoo hoo. PS they can take yet another deduction when they hit 65 years of age.

Then the blind get to add their social security perks. they can recieve benefits and still earn up to 1,570.00 per month working. Any other dissabled person is only allowed to earn 940.00 while still earning social security.

Why couldnt we just say oh well you get extra money anyways and thats your compensation for having to deal with currency issues. No now we have to redesign all of our currency which will not be cheap and really sucks because it was just recently fucking done. Hell I can not even get a historical building of any type to be required to add a ramp and so forth. Wonder what if we can get change redesigned too for our quad friends or those who can not hold small items?

Yeah, and the holograms too :) Australia has the coolest money. :2 cents:

US Currency is crazy dumb. I don't get it at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknot...tralian_dollar

They'll likely end up using the Australian Mint or their tech, plastic notes, different colors, different sizes, different feel.

-Ben

they should redesign it to be worth something

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

In the future even seeing people might be mistaking the US $ notes.

They might mistake it for toilet paper as it will only be worth wiping their ass with them. :1orglaugh

That for the fiercely loyal Americans is called sarcasm. :winkwink:

I always thought the dollar bills being the same size and colour was confusing.

Yeah cant understand why all the US bank notes are the same seems pretty dumb and kinda harsh on the blind or partially blind.
Here in the UK all the notes are different sizes and so are our coins.
The Australian banks notes are pretty cool they are all different sizes to but are also made of plastic ( typical surfer dudes).
Used to find loads of dollars washed up on the beach when i took the dog for a walk in W.A :pimp

Mexico started out with the different size ones as well, but now they have redesigned the money again, and the sizes changed. So you have 2 different size 20 peso bills, and 100 peso bills.

hahahaaa i havent seen anyone yet even on CNN that can do magic like that

That will be handy for all those blind people who use the drive up ATM machines, since they have brail buttons.

canadian money has braile on it

British sterling has been like this for a long time, I think Euros are supposed to be also though I can't tell them apart.

I live 5 mins drive from Note Printing Australia. :thumbsup

I remember in the early 90s this guy I knew used to scrape off the queen's face on every $5 note that passed through his hands. :1orglaugh