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When I first read the headline "Court rules paper money unfair to blind," I sighed in relief. About time. Perhaps now the government will change the paper money and add tactile features to make the bills more easily readable for the blind and visually impaired.

It's amazing that visually impaired people, in the U.S. of all countries, have to fight for their right to know the difference between a $1 and a $100 bill. But fact is that millions of visually impaired Americans have a hard time telling what denomination they hold in their hands -- and they have spoken up on the internet, and in court. And today, finally, a federal appeals court said paper money discriminates against blind people, upholding a ruling that could force the U.S. to redesign its money to make the notes distinguishable.

If you're worried about costs, don't be. If most countries in the world can afford it, including Iraq, then so can the U.S. In fact, It's Our Money Too! says that "the cost of adding a tactile feature to U.S. paper currency is projected to be less than five percent of the over all annual cost of producing paper currency."

Here's what other countries are doing according to the Committee on Currency Features Usable by the Visually Impaired: "Of the 171 issuing authorities identified by the committee, more than 100 issue banknotes that vary in size for the different denominations . . . [and] 167 use a clearly differentiated color scheme for all denominations." Also in use are:
  • large numerals on banknotes;
  • special shaped patterns;
  • specific engraved visible markings;
  • specific engraved invisible markings;
  • watermark features; and
  • machine-identifiable features.
The ruling doesn't surprise me. What surprises me is that it has taken this long and that there was actually a judge who voted against the ruling. Will the U.S. change its currency now, perhaps in time for it to start strengthening again?

Court says paper money unfair to the blind - you don't say! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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