Disability Compliance Bulletin

Friday, May 31, 2002

Suit cites 1995 study

In 1995, the National Academy of Sciences, a nonprofit society of
scholars, published a study that recommended ways in which paper money
could be made more accessible to people with visual impairments. The
study said the size of banknotes should be varied. It also suggested
color changes and the use of a large, high-contrast numeral (see box
below). But the defendants did not implement any of the study's
recommendations, the suit claims, and people with visual impairments
continue to endure "a heightened risk of fraud and deceit in connection
with transactions requiring the use of banknotes."

"Right now, blind people are forced to rely upon either the honesty of
people with whom they engage in routine financial transactions or the
assistance of other people who can read what denomination a particular
bill is," said Charles Crawford, executive director of the Council of the
Blind.

The suit, which says that 120 countries use banknotes of different sizes,
stresses that requested modifications would not be unduly burdensome.

"The changes we are requesting are not extraordinary or burdensome," said
Melanie Brunson of Vienna, Calif., the American Council of the Blind's
director of advocacy and governmental relations. "Seven years have gone
by since experts documented what every blind person already knows, that
our ability to distinguish a 5 from a 20 can create enormous
difficulties," Brunson added, referring to the 1995 report.

The suit, filed by Washington attorney Jeffrey A. Lovitky, claims a
violation of Section 504. It seeks a declaratory judgment and an
injunction requiring that banknotes be redesigned in a way that makes
them more usable by people with visual impairments.

American Council of the Blind, Washington, (202) 467-5081;

Jeffrey A.  Lovitky, Washington, (202) 429-3393.


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