Feds Say No To Blind-Friendly Paper Money

(AP)  The Bush administration on Tuesday asked an appeals court to overturn a ruling that could require a redesign of the nation's currency to help the blind.

Justice Department lawyers filed the appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on behalf of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

The appeal seeks to overturn a ruling last month by U.S. District Judge James Robertson, who ordered the Treasury to come up with ways for the blind to recognize the different denominations of paper currency.

Robertson had ruled in a lawsuit brought by the American Council of the Blind. The council proposed several options for changes, including printing different size bills or changing the texture by adding embossed dots or foil.

Jeffrey Lovitky, an attorney for the council, said he planned to petition the appeals court to reject the appeal until Robertson makes a decision on what remedies the government should pursue. A hearing to hear the government's recommendations is scheduled for next month.

In his ruling, Robertson said that of 180 countries issuing paper currency, only the United States prints bills that are identical in size and color in all their denominations.

He said the current practice violates the Rehabilitation Act, a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in government programs.

In the government's appeal, Justice Department lawyers argued that visually impaired people are not denied "meaningful access" to money by the way the nation's currency is designed.

They noted the existence of portable reading devices that the blind can use to determine the denomination of paper money. The government said the blind can also use credit cards instead of currency.

The government also argued that Robertson was wrong in ruling that making changes to help the blind would not be unduly burdensome.

Tara Cortes, president of Lighthouse International, an advocacy group for the blind, said the government's decision to fight making changes in the currency was "misguided and harmful to millions."

She said there are 1.3 million people in the United States who are legally blind and there will be millions more in coming years as the baby boom generation ages and more people fall victim to macular degeneration and other diseases that can affect vision such as diabetes.

"While the government may argue that changing the dollar bill will cost billions, it will pale in comparison to the costs of the vision loss epidemic," Cortes said.

[wicki102]

We think we are such and advanced country but we dont even help out our disabled folks who are trying to live independently. its funny how "3rd world" countries manage to do this and we cant

A blind person is still dependent on a sighted person to tell them the denominations so they can be folded correctly and the bill readers are expensive and are the size of a check book but 4 times as thick, imagine having to carry that around on top of every other tool you need as a blind person.

[vincan-2009]

I don't think the money should be changed for the blind. Sadly they are blind. But they have managed up until now, and it is not right to spend the money to change money over to a system just for them. The other very sad fact is this country doesn't have the money. We are a nation in serious debt.

[pensacola8-2009]

If you alter braile embossments on the bills, it will be a very sneaky and quiet way to cheat the blind. After that is discovered, what will be our next solution?

[observantx]

Let%u2019s take a look at our money. Let%u2019s have everyone take any bill out of their wallet or purse and take a look. OK what do we see here? If it%u2019s one of the new bills it is now printed in colors instead of the old silver and green. There are the famous red and blue threads in the paper. Then there is the word stripe, the larger presidential portrait and the watermarks.

It appears we have done a lot to make our currency less susceptible to counterfeiting and to increase its recognition. So what is so radical about a few Braille dots embossed into the paper? It%u2019s a simple in-line rotary die operation that could be done at almost any point in the process after the printing is finished. The technology to do that is very basic and uncomplicated. It wouldn%u2019t cost much at all.

Is it just that this administration likes to say %u201CNO%u201D to everyone but millionaires? Could it be a congenital defect, something in the very DNA that makes anything simple, logical, beneficial and reasonable seem filthy and horrible? You tell me.

[naber1961]

This regime in the White House does'ntt know a thing about equal rights. And I say "regime" in the worst light possible.

[jonw1115]

I think it would be great if some type of device existed for the blind to emboss braille on the bills themselves. That would really fire up the opponents of this proposed change.

It is sad that we as Americans can go out of our way to accomodate certain people with disabilities and continue to neglect others. Where are the equal rights here?

[docgalen]

That is absolutely absurd! In the movie Daredevil, the hero had to have someone fold his bills so he could tell them apart. Why not change the size or put braille on it?

[naber1961]

this is just another way the Bush Amdinistration wants to discriminate against people. DUBYA might would feel different if he or his family were visually impaired. Cousrse they are rich so they can have people count it for them... Portable readers.... come on now!

[jhindson1]

Just embosse braille values on the bills - no big deal

[flolake]

As long as gdub is hanging out in D.C., we can't expect too much in the way of progress. After all, he IS the self proclaimed "decider..."