Way cool!

[serene]

This was quoted on a local LTBG list, and I don't know its source, but still, very cool! I'm off to do some research to get a link instead of the full text.

Judge Orders Treasury Department to Make Paper Money Recognizable to Blind People
Tuesday , November 28, 2006

WASHINGTON ­ By keeping all U.S. currency the same size and texture, the government has denied blind people meaningful access to money, a federal judge said Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge James Robertson said the Treasury Department has violated the law, and he ordered the government to come up with ways for the blind to tell bills apart.

More here.

Comments

[stitchinthyme.livejournal.com]

Pretty cool, and about time.

Heck, all they'd need to do is make them different sizes -- then they wouldn't have to worry about raised dots or counterfeit protection or whatever else they're bitching about as being so expensive. Problem solved.

This subject reminds me of a scene in the movie Ray where Ray Charles insists on being paid in singles because that way he knows for a fact that he won't be ripped off. As much as it'd be nice to think no one would take advantage of a blind person, we all know there are any number of people who wouldn't hesitate.

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

I disagree about making them different sizes (see my comment below).

[stitchinthyme.livejournal.com]

They did say that the $1 bill design would not change, and don't most machines just accept singles? Okay, probably train fare ones would also take higher denominations. How do they deal with it in places like the UK, where bills are all different sizes?

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Many machines accept denominations up to $20.

As to the UK solution, good question. If the answer was to reprogram the machines, that is less onerous than having to replace them, but it still increases the overhead somewhat. The die-cut avoids any reprogramming issues (although new machines can be set up to scan for the scallop along with whatever current scan technology they use).

[stitchinthyme.livejournal.com]

Couldn't dishonest people cut or tear the bills to mess with the machines or with blind people?