[blindlaw] American currency and other accessibility issues.

[AZNOR99 at aol.com]

Rod,
 
The point you haven't yet grasped is that some "adaptations" may indeed be  
harmful rather than helpful to the blind as a whole.  Joe's points are  valid 
and true, as are Dave's.  Information obtained through ATM screens  is, by its 
nature, supposed to be private, just as voting is.  However,  cash-money 
transactions are not necessarily private.  Additionally, we, as  a population, must 
be cognicent of the image we portray to our sighted  counterparts.  I, for 
one, have real problems conveying to the world that I  am incapable of 
functioning within it unless changes imposed on everyone and  everything around me are 
made.  Money is one of them.  I can transact  using folded money, or money I 
place in different parts of my purse, or  whatever.  I can't use an ATM machine 
in any other way but sound.  If,  for example, vending machines were altered 
tomorrow to require the use of a  credit card, touch screen, or PIN, then I 
might join your fight to adapt them to  use sound too.  Including sound is a 
relatively inexpensive process as  compared with other alterations.  Joe's email 
outlining the costs of  changing the form of currency is not only 
enlightening, but it's important  because it conveys the costs associated with such a 
massive undertaking.   Some undertakings of this proportion and economic level are 
necessary.   Nonetheless, here, there are alternatives that serve the same 
purpose and are  fiscally feasible.  Have you taken the Constitutional law 
course that  discusses when government is absolved of certain requirements because 
of undue  hardship?  This might be one of them.  So rather than fight about  
whether or not to change the size of money, shouldn't we be discussing how to  
improve unemployment or education?  The final thing I'll say about this  point 
is that I suggest you search Westlaw for amicus briefs concerning issues  
important to other civil rights organizations.  I guarantee you'll find  
organizations with similar objectives opposing one another's positions - and  these 
are briefs that judges read every day.  
 
Good luck with finals.
 
Ronza
 
-------------- next part --------------
Rod,
 
The point you haven't yet grasped is that some "adaptations" may indeed be harmful rather than helpful to the blind as a whole.  Joe's points are valid and true, as are Dave's.  Information obtained through ATM screens is, by its nature, supposed to be private, just as voting is.  However, cash-money transactions are not necessarily private.  Additionally, we, as a population, must be cognicent of the image we portray to our sighted counterparts.  I, for one, have real problems conveying to the world that I am incapable of functioning within it unless changes imposed on everyone and everything around me are made.  Money is one of them.  I can transact using folded money, or money I place in different parts of my purse, or whatever.  I can't use an ATM machine in any other way but sound.  If, for example, vending machines were altered tomorrow to require the use of a credit card, touch screen, or PIN, then I might join your fight to adapt them to use sound too.  Including sound is a relatively inexpensive process as compared with other alterations.  Joe's email outlining the costs of changing the form of currency is not only enlightening, but it's important because it conveys the costs associated with such a massive undertaking.  Some undertakings of this proportion and economic level are necessary.  Nonetheless, here, there are alternatives that serve the same purpose and are fiscally feasible.  Have you taken the Constitutional law course that discusses when government is absolved of certain requirements because of undue hardship?  This might be one of them.  So rather than fight about whether or not to change the size of money, shouldn't we be discussing how to improve unemployment or education?  The final thing I'll say about this point is that I suggest you search Westlaw for amicus briefs concerning issues important to other civil rights organizations.  I guarantee you'll find organizations with similar objectives opposing one another's positions - and these are briefs that judges read every day. 
 
Good luck with finals.
 
Ronza