-----Original Message-----
From: Kennedy, Bud
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 10:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: [VICUG-L] American Council of the Blind seeks changes in
U.S. currency
I agree that this is an interesting issue and needs discussion. But can you
really participate independently in a transaction where someone hands you a
bill and tells you what it is and you accept that on trust. Fortunately,
what makes the current system work is one of two things. Either people are
still trustworthy enough that they don't want to cheat a blind person or
they are really not sure whether a blind person can or can not tell the
denomination of a bill.
Incidentally, according to a 1996 article in the New York Times magazine,
the average life of a bill is 18 months.
Bud Kennedy
-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher J Chaltain [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 11:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] American Council of the Blind seeks changes in
U.S. currency
I'm not sure how I feel about this issue. I agree that having different
sized bills or braille markings would make things more convenient, but I'm
not sure it's worth the price. How much will it cost to replace all of
the bills in circulation with new bills? How much more expensive will it
be to print bills of different size or bills with braille markings?
Even more expensive could be how this effects the perception of the blind
by the general public. For example, the article says the following:
"The lawsuit contends individuals who can't identify currency
denominations are precluded from participating in a variety of
transactions integral to daily life, such as the ability to freely make
purchases. All U.S. bills are the same size."
I don't feel "precluded from participating in a variety of transactions
integral to daily life," at least not because all US bills are the same
size. I'm not sure I want those I work with every day, and someone I may
be talking to about a job in the future, thinking that I and blind people
cannot cope with our currency as it is now. I don't want people thinking
that I cannot be an independent member of this society until the federal
government changes all of the paper currency in circulation.
I guess I feel that there are still more important issues facing the blind
today. Personally, I'm worried about the high unemployment rate among the
blind, access to software I need to use as part of my job and public
transportation, to name a few. I'm glad to see that we're getting
accessible ATM's, and it'll be easier for blind students and teachers to
get access to text books. I guess I feel that we should pick and choose
are battles, and I'm not sure that our paper currency should be the next
battle.
Christopher
Christopher J Chaltain
[log in to unmask]
Kelly Pierce <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: "VICUG-L: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List"
<[log in to unmask]>
05/05/2002 01:17 PM
Please respond to Kelly Pierce
To: [log in to unmask]
cc:
Subject: [VICUG-L] American Council of the Blind seeks
changes in U.S. currency
American Council of the Blind seeks changes in U.S. currency
Fri May 3, 6:46 PM ET
By JEANNINE AVERSA, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The American Council of the Blind sued the federal
government Friday seeking changes in the design of the U.S. paper
currency.
The lawsuit contends individuals who can't identify currency
denominations are precluded from participating in a variety of
transactions integral to daily life, such as the ability to freely make
purchases. All U.S. bills are the same size.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, seeks changes
including the use of Braille markings and varying the length and height
of bills by denomination.
The council is suing under a provision contained in the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. The provision says individuals with disabilities may not be
excluded from or denied the benefits of participation in any program or
activity conducted by the U.S. government.
The lawsuit says the issuance of currency constitutes a government
activity.
"However, persons with visual disabilities are largely excluded from
enjoying the benefits of this activity due solely to their physical
limitations," it says.
The American Council of the Blind is a national organization that seeks
to improve the quality of life, security and work opportunities for the
blind and visually impaired.
A Treasury Department ( spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Over the past several years, the U.S. has redesigned paper notes - except
for dlrs 1 bills and dlrs 2 bills - including some features geared to
help the visually impaired - as part of an ongoing effort to thwart
high-tech counterfeiters. More changes are planned.
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html
|
