[nfbwatlk] Court of Appeals affirms currency ruling

[Nightingale, Noel]

Court rules paper money unfair to blind 


Federal appeals court says Treasury Department is violating the law by
keeping all money the same size and feel.

 
Last Updated: May 20, 2008: 11:19 AM EDT

 
money_stack2.ce.03.jpg<http://i.l.cnn.net/money/2008/05/20/news/blind_mo
ney.ap/money_stack2.ce.03.jpg> 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. discriminates against blind people by
printing paper money that makes it impossible for them to distinguish
the bills' value, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The ruling upholds a decision by a lower court in 2006. It could force
the Treasury Department to redesign its money. Suggested changes have
ranged from making bills different sizes to printing them with raised
markings.

The United States acknowledges that the design hinders blind people but
it argued they had adapted --some relied on store clerks for help, some
used credit cards and others folded certain corners to help distinguish
the bills.

But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled
2-1 that such adaptations were insufficient. The government might as
well argue that, since handicapped people can crawl on all fours or ask
for help from strangers, there's no need to make buildings wheelchair
accessible, the court said.

The court also ruled that the United States failed to explain why
changing the money would be an undue burden. The Treasury Department has
redesigned its currency several times in recent years and adding
features to aid the blind would come at a relatively small cost, the
court said.

Other countries have added such features, the court said, and the United
States never explained what made its situation so unique. To top of page
<http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/20/news/blind_money.ap/index.htm?cnn=yes#T
OP> 

First Published: May 20, 2008: 10:58 AM EDT