[blindlaw] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Federal Court Ruling on U.S. Currency

[Sceach Blackwolf]

I also think it is a bit of a stretch to suggest that simply because money
is accesible, employers will become even more unwilling to hire the blind.
There's already a school of thought that is quite widespread that says that
blind people are largely incapable; if anything maybe having accesible money
will make people rethink the notion that the blind can't manage their own
money. Sure, sighted people can get ripped off, and you can get technology,
but frankly I don't have eighty bucks and I'd rather have the goverment pay
for some new printing plates. Not to mention that things of this nature are
not, to my mind, gestures of pity. If anything I feel that it gets blind
issues out there into the sighted world. Sometimes we do need some help, or
if we don't need it, it can certainly be convenient when gestures like this
are made. Yes, I can get on the plane with everyone else, but I find it more
difficult to go down a narrow aisle with luggage and a cane, so I take
advantage of pre-boarding. At National I was trying to find a specific table
which was quite difficult for me, so I let an aid take me there. It saved me
time, effort, and frustration. God forbid we make our lives easier.

CT


On 11/29/06, Will Miller <william_t_miller at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> For what it's worth coming from a blind non-NFB member, I think this is a
> ridiculous, counterproductive, short-sighted  position for the NFB to
> take.
> It frustrates me that the article says that this is coming from the "voice
> of the blind". I haven't read, nor can I imagine, anything that would
> remotely justify an organization that advocates for the blind taking this
> position.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
> To: <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>; <dandrews at visi.com>; <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> >;
> <promotion-technology at nfbnet.org>; "" nabs-l"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nabs-l?="@nfbnet.org>; "" nfbcs"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbcs?="@nfbnet.org>; <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>;
> <nfb-announce at nfbnet.org>; "" nfbmo"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbmo?="@nfbnet.org>; <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>; ""
> journalists"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0journalists?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>; <blindkid at nfbnet.org>; <napub at nfbnet.org>;
> <nabop at nfbnet.org>; <blparent at nfbnet.org>; <cabs-talk at nfbnet.org>; ""
> nfb-reno-l"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-reno-l?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <nfb-river-city at nfbnet.org>; "" nfb-sf"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-sf?="@nfbnet.org>; <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>;
> <nfbofncp at nfbnet.org>; <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>; ""
> electronics-talk"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0electronics-talk?="@nfbnet.org>; <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> >;
> "" tops-2005"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0tops-2005?="@nfbnet.org>; ""
> rocketon"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0rocketon?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <nopbc-board at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-newsline-sponsors at nfbnet.org>;
> <nfb-imagination-fund at nfbnet.org>; "" new-horizons"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0new-horizons?="@nfbnet.org>; "" ncbys"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0ncbys?="@nfbnet.org>; <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>;
> <gama-summit at nfbnet.org>; <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org>;
> <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>; "" cabs"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0cabs?="@nfbnet.org>; <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>; ""
> nfbaz-talk"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbaz-talk?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <mabs at nfbnet.org>; <oabs at nfbnet.org>; <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>; ""
> nfbf-l"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbf-l?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <4alabama at nfbnet.org>; "" vabs"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0vabs?="@nfbnet.org>; "" mn-abs"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0mn-abs?="@nfbnet.org>; <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>; ""
> mi-abs"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0mi-abs?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <il-talk at nfbnet.org>; <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>; ""
> nebraska-students"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nebraska-students?="@nfbnet.org>; ""
> tn-talk"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0tn-talk?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <vendtalk at nfbnet.org>; "" nagdu"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nagdu?="@nfbnet.org>; "" nyagdu"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nyagdu?="@nfbnet.org>; "" ag-eq"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0ag-eq?="@nfbnet.org>; <arizona-students at nfbnet.org>;
> ""
> nfb-kzoo"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-kzoo?="@nfbnet.org>; ""
> reader-users"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0reader-users?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <nabentre at nfbnet.org>; "" nfbj"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbj?="@nfbnet.org>; "" nfb-db"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-db?="@nfbnet.org>; <nfb-fundraising at nfbnet.org>;
> ""
> faith-talk"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0faith-talk?="@nfbnet.org>; ""
> lions-ed"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0lions-ed?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>; "" ncme-mentoring"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0ncme-mentoring?="@nfbnet.org>; ""
> nfbwv-talk"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbwv-talk?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>; "" humanser"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0humanser?="@nfbnet.org>; <rehab at nfbnet.org>;
> <nfbpnotk at nfbnet.org>; "" musictlk"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0musictlk?="@nfbnet.org>; "" nosb"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nosb?="@nfbnet.org>; <stylist at nfbnet.org>; ""
> sportsandrec"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0sportsandrec?="@nfbnet.org>;
> "" nobe-l"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nobe-l?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>; "" teachvib"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0teachvib?="@nfbnet.org>; "" nfb-web"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-web?="@nfbnet.org>; <ccb-alumni at nfbnet.org>; ""
> la-students"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0la-students?="@nfbnet.org>;
> ""
> nfb-cars"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-cars?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <nfb-hi at nfbnet.org>; "" nfbkabs"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbkabs?="@nfbnet.org>; "" nfbkpbc"@nfbnet.org"
> <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbkpbc?="@nfbnet.org>; <nfbofncp at nfbnet.org>; ""
> tabs"@nfbnet.org" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0tabs?="@nfbnet.org>;
> <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 4:53 PM
> Subject: [blindlaw] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Federal
> Court Ruling on U.S. Currency
>
>
>         National Federation of the Blind Comments
>
>
> on Federal Court Ruling on U.S. Currency
>
>
>
>
> Views Effort as Dangerously Misguided
>
>
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (November 29, 2006): The
> National Federation of the Blind, the largest
> organization of blind persons in America and
> known as the voice of the nation's blind,
> criticized as dangerously misguided a federal
> court ruling saying that the design of U.S.
> currency discriminates against the blind.
>
>
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
> Federation of the Blind, said: "The blind need
> jobs and real opportunities to earn money, not
> feel-good gimmicks that misinform the public
> about our capabilities.  Blind people transact
> business with paper money every day.  This ruling
> puts a roadblock in the way of solving the real
> problem, which is the seventy percent
> unemployment rate among working-age blind
> Americans that severely limits our access to
> cash.  The ruling will do nothing to alleviate
> that situation; in fact, it seriously endangers
> the ability of the blind to get jobs and
> participate fully in society.  It argues that the
> blind cannot handle currency or documents in the
> workplace and that virtually everything must be
> modified for the use of the blind.  An employer
> who believes that every piece of printed material
> in the workplace must be specially designed so
> that the blind can read it will have a strong
> incentive not to hire a blind person."
>
>
>
> Maurer went on to enumerate the real needs for
> access to information by the blind and made a
> distinction between those needs and the issue of
> identifying currency.  "Access to information of
> all kinds, such as that contained on Internet Web
> sites and in the press, is certainly critical to
> the ability of the blind to become productive
> members of society.  Blind students need
> educational materials in Braille and other
> alternative formats so that they can prepare for
> employment and ultimately earn an income for
> themselves and their families.  Given the urgent
> need for access to the kind of information that
> is required for success in America's information
> economy, the matter of identifying the
> denominations of paper bills is of relatively little concern."
>
>
>
> Blind people traditionally identify paper
> currency by folding bills of different
> denominations in different ways.  "In reality,
> blind people do not routinely find that we have
> been short-changed," Maurer commented.  Machines
> are readily available to identify paper money for
> blind people who run businesses or handle large
> amounts of cash.  "Essentially, the United States
> Treasury has been ordered by the courts to come
> up with a solution for a nonexistent problem," Maurer said.
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind believes
> that with training and opportunity, blind people
> can compete in the world with only minor
> modifications.  The American Council of the
> Blind, which brought the lawsuit against the
> United States Treasury, promotes the view that
> the blind are unable to compete unless the world
> is modified dramatically and specifically for
> blind people, and that the blind must be made
> objects of care and pity rather than equal participants in society.
>
>
>
> John G. Paré Jr.
> Director of Public Relations
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> 1800 Johnson Street
> Baltimore, Maryland  21230
> Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2371
> Cell phone:  (410) 913-3912
> Fax:  (410) 685-5653
> Email:  jpare at nfb.org
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
-------------- next part --------------
I also think it is a bit of a stretch to suggest that simply because money is accesible, employers will become even more unwilling to hire the blind. There's already a school of thought that is quite widespread that says that blind people are largely incapable; if anything maybe having accesible money will make people rethink the notion that the blind can't manage their own money. Sure, sighted people can get ripped off, and you can get technology, but frankly I don't have eighty bucks and I'd rather have the goverment pay for some new printing plates. Not to mention that things of this nature are not, to my mind, gestures of pity. If anything I feel that it gets blind issues out there into the sighted world. Sometimes we do need some help, or if we don't need it, it can certainly be convenient when gestures like this are made. Yes, I can get on the plane with everyone else, but I find it more difficult to go down a narrow aisle with luggage and a cane, so I take advantage of pre-boarding. At National I was trying to find a specific table which was quite difficult for me, so I let an aid take me there. It saved me time, effort, and frustration. God forbid we make our lives easier.  
 
CT
On 11/29/06,
Will Miller
< mailto:william_t_miller at hotmail.com william_t_miller at hotmail.com
> wrote:
For what it's worth coming from a blind non-NFB member, I think this is a
ridiculous, counterproductive, short-sighted  position for the NFB to take.
It frustrates me that the article says that this is coming from the "voice
of the blind". I haven't read, nor can I imagine, anything that would
remotely justify an organization that advocates for the blind taking this
position.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Andrews" < mailto:dandrews at visi.com dandrews at visi.com
>
To: < mailto:dtb-talk at nfbnet.org dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:dandrews at visi.com dandrews at visi.com
>; < mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:promotion-technology at nfbnet.org promotion-technology at nfbnet.org
>; "" nabs-l"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nabs-l?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" nfbcs"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbcs?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:blindtlk at nfbnet.org blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nfb-announce at nfbnet.org nfb-announce at nfbnet.org
>; "" nfbmo"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbmo?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfb-science at nfbnet.org nfb-science at nfbnet.org
>; ""
journalists"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0journalists?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:gui-talk at nfbnet.org gui-talk at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:blindkid at nfbnet.org blindkid at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:napub at nfbnet.org napub at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nabop at nfbnet.org nabop at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:blparent at nfbnet.org blparent at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:cabs-talk at nfbnet.org cabs-talk at nfbnet.org
>; ""
nfb-reno-l"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-reno-l?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nfb-river-city at nfbnet.org nfb-river-city at nfbnet.org
>; "" nfb-sf"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-sf?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfbc-info at nfbnet.org nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nfbofncp at nfbnet.org nfbofncp at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:trainer-talk at nfbnet.org trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>; ""
electronics-talk"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0electronics-talk?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfb-talk at nfbnet.org nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>;
"" tops-2005"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0tops-2005?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; ""
rocketon"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0rocketon?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nopbc-board at nfbnet.org nopbc-board at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfb-newsline-sponsors at nfbnet.org nfb-newsline-sponsors at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nfb-imagination-fund at nfbnet.org nfb-imagination-fund at nfbnet.org
>; "" new-horizons"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0new-horizons?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" ncbys"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0ncbys?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:gama-summit at nfbnet.org gama-summit at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:mt-blind at nfbnet.org mt-blind at nfbnet.org
>; "" cabs"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0cabs?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org colorado-talk at nfbnet.org
>; ""
nfbaz-talk"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbaz-talk?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:mabs at nfbnet.org mabs at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:oabs at nfbnet.org oabs at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org
>; ""
nfbf-l"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbf-l?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:4alabama at nfbnet.org 4alabama at nfbnet.org
>; "" vabs"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0vabs?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" mn-abs"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0mn-abs?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
>; ""
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" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0mi-abs?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:il-talk at nfbnet.org il-talk at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:iabs-talk at nfbnet.org iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
>; ""
nebraska-students"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nebraska-students?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; ""
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" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0tn-talk?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:vendtalk at nfbnet.org vendtalk at nfbnet.org
>; "" nagdu"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nagdu?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" nyagdu"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nyagdu?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" ag-eq"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0ag-eq?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:arizona-students at nfbnet.org arizona-students at nfbnet.org
>; ""
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" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-kzoo?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; ""
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" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0reader-users?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nabentre at nfbnet.org nabentre at nfbnet.org
>; "" nfbj"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbj?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" nfb-db"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-db?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfb-fundraising at nfbnet.org nfb-fundraising at nfbnet.org
>; ""
faith-talk"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0faith-talk?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; ""
lions-ed"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0lions-ed?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nfb-lions at nfbnet.org nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
>; "" ncme-mentoring"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0ncme-mentoring?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; ""
nfbwv-talk"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfbwv-talk?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:blindlaw at nfbnet.org blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:nfb-editors at nfbnet.org nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
>; "" humanser"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0humanser?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:rehab at nfbnet.org rehab at nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:nfbpnotk at nfbnet.org nfbpnotk at nfbnet.org
>; "" musictlk"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0musictlk?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" nosb"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nosb?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:stylist at nfbnet.org stylist at nfbnet.org
>; ""
sportsandrec"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0sportsandrec?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
"" nobe-l"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nobe-l?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
< mailto:travelandtourism at nfbnet.org travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
>; "" teachvib"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0teachvib?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; "" nfb-web"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
"
<"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-web?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; < mailto:ccb-alumni at nfbnet.org ccb-alumni at nfbnet.org
>; ""
la-students"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0la-students?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>; ""
nfb-cars"@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
" <"=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A0nfb-cars?="@ http://nfbnet.org nfbnet.org
>;
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Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 4:53 PM
Subject: [blindlaw] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Federal
Court Ruling on U.S. Currency
        National Federation of the Blind Comments
on Federal Court Ruling on U.S. Currency
Views Effort as Dangerously Misguided
Baltimore, Maryland (November 29, 2006): The
National Federation of the Blind, the largest
organization of blind persons in America and
known as the voice of the nation's blind,
criticized as dangerously misguided a federal
court ruling saying that the design of U.S.
currency discriminates against the blind.
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
Federation of the Blind, said: "The blind need
jobs and real opportunities to earn money, not
feel-good gimmicks that misinform the public
about our capabilities.  Blind people transact
business with paper money every day.  This ruling
puts a roadblock in the way of solving the real
problem, which is the seventy percent
unemployment rate among working-age blind
Americans that severely limits our access to
cash.  The ruling will do nothing to alleviate
that situation; in fact, it seriously endangers
the ability of the blind to get jobs and
participate fully in society.  It argues that the
blind cannot handle currency or documents in the
workplace and that virtually everything must be
modified for the use of the blind.  An employer
who believes that every piece of printed material
in the workplace must be specially designed so
that the blind can read it will have a strong
incentive not to hire a blind person."
Maurer went on to enumerate the real needs for
access to information by the blind and made a
distinction between those needs and the issue of
identifying currency.  "Access to information of
all kinds, such as that contained on Internet Web
sites and in the press, is certainly critical to
the ability of the blind to become productive
members of society.  Blind students need
educational materials in Braille and other
alternative formats so that they can prepare for
employment and ultimately earn an income for
themselves and their families.  Given the urgent
need for access to the kind of information that
is required for success in America's information
economy, the matter of identifying the
denominations of paper bills is of relatively little concern."
Blind people traditionally identify paper
currency by folding bills of different
denominations in different ways.  "In reality,
blind people do not routinely find that we have
been short-changed," Maurer commented.  Machines
are readily available to identify paper money for
blind people who run businesses or handle large
amounts of cash.  "Essentially, the United States
Treasury has been ordered by the courts to come
up with a solution for a nonexistent problem," Maurer said.
The National Federation of the Blind believes
that with training and opportunity, blind people
can compete in the world with only minor
modifications.  The American Council of the
Blind, which brought the lawsuit against the
United States Treasury, promotes the view that
the blind are unable to compete unless the world
is modified dramatically and specifically for
blind people, and that the blind must be made
objects of care and pity rather than equal participants in society.
John G. Paré Jr.
Director of Public Relations
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland  21230
Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2371
Cell phone:  (410) 913-3912
Fax:  (410) 685-5653
Email:   mailto:jpare at nfb.org jpare at nfb.org
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