[blindlaw] Judge rules money to be accessible to the blind

Sat Dec 2 11:05:23 CST 2006

I don't buy the argument that we should avoid disagreeing with the ACB just 
for the sake of avoiding disagreement.  We should agree with that 
organization when what it wants is in the best interests of the blind and 
disagree with it when it doesn't.  I don't think any truly necessary 
legislation has been stopped by disagreement between the two organizations; 
a few silly things like described television have, but nothing really major. 
We should certainly play nice when we can, but we shouldn't do it just for 
the sake of doing so.

Chris

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rumpole" <rumpole at gwi.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 8:46 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Judge rules money to be accessible to the blind

>I have to disagree. I think that the NFB should stay out of this one.
> I've been in foreign countrys and found the ability to identify currency 
> on
> my own to be very comfortable. No device or mechanics involved. I weas on
> the very same parr as everyone else there.
> Further, having blind advocates on both sides of this issue would drive a
> wedge into the advocacy as a whole. I have watched with dismay time after
> time as disability advocates were played off of each other to cripple or
> stop good work from being done.
> Just my thoughts on it - thats all.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Judge rules money to be accessible to the blind
>
>
>> NFB has a resolution opposing "accessible" currency so we *should*
>> participate in an appeal. The resolution *does* suggest an alternative --
>> mass purchasing of money identifiers.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Angie Matney" <angie at mpmail.net>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:00 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Judge rules money to be accessible to the blind
>>
>>
>> OK, here's my opinion, for what it's worth.
>>
>> This isn't the most important issue we're dealing with--not by a long
>> shot.
>> But I really, really hope the NFB doesn't participate in an appeal of 
>> this
>> ruling. This will eventually come to pass, and I'm not completely
>> convinced
>> it shouldn't. Do
>> we **need** it? No, not in the way we need power to *earn* money. Will it
>> enrich people's lives? Absolutely.
>>
>> I read the district court judge's ruling (there's a link to it in the
>> article). It's fascinating. Some of the objections by the department of
>> the
>> treasury seem to be based on a belief that they are "above" accessibility
>> and the law. They argue
>> they are not covered by section 504. According to the judge, they
>> misrepresented facts to make it look like this will be more expensive to
>> implement than it actually would be.
>>
>> So, again, while I don't view accessible currency as something that's 
>> very
>> important, I don't think it needs to be appealed, since these featuers
>> will
>> eventually be incorporated into currency anyway.
>>
>> I'll post the ruling if anybody wants to read the whole thing.
>>
>> Angie
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:44:07 -0500, Rod Alcidonis  wrote:
>>
>>>I love the ruling. Other countries are doing it, why not the U.S?
>>
>>>Rod
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>Behalf Of Sceach Blackwolf
>>>Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:44 PM
>>>To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Judge rules money to be accessible to the blind
>>
>>>At first I was scornful of this idea (yeesh, fold your money!) but I've
>>>come
>>>to like the idea. Maybe it will cut down on blind people being ripped 
>>>off.
>>
>>>CT
>>
>>>On 11/28/06, dlb723 <dlb723 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Judge says Treasury Department is violating the law by keeping all 
>>>> money
>>>> the same size and feel.
>>>> November 28 2006: 5:30 PM EST
>>>>
>>>> NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A federal judge has ruled 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.
>>>>
>>>> Judge James Robertson, in a ruling on a suit by the American Council of
>>>> the Blind, ordered the Treasury to devise a method to tell bills apart.
>>>>
>>>> dollar_money_press_print.03.jpg
>>>>
>>>> The judge wrote that the current configuration of paper money violates
>>>> the
>>>> Rehabilitation Act's guarantee of "meaningful access."
>>>>
>>>> "It can no longer be successfully argued that a blind person has
>>>> 'meaningful access' to currency if she cannot accurately identify paper
>>>> money without assistance,"
>>>> Robertson wrote in his ruling.
>>>>
>>>> He further ruled that finding a solution to the problem would not be an
>>>> "undue burden" on the government and ordered the Treasury Department to
>>>> begin working
>>>> on a solution within 30 days.
>>>>
>>>> The American Council for the Blind has submitted several alternatives,
>>>> including embossing, holes punched in the paper or using 
>>>> different-sized
>>>> bills for
>>>> different denominations.
>>>>
>>>> The Treasury Department had no comment on the ruling.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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