Maybe the idea of accessible currency isn't so far fetched.

Kelly



Tuesday, May 6, 2003

Associated Press

Mexico redesigns currencies to help blind

    (05-06) 11:40 PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) -- The Central Bank of Mexico
will make changes to its national currency to help the blind and
visually impaired identify bills and coins. The new money will
incorporate reliefs to make denominations identifiable by touch, the
Central Bank said Tuesday. The bank plans to finish this year a study of
the textured currencies before making changes to raw materials and
starting production. Mexico has 467,000 people with visual disabilities,
according to the country's 2000 census. Other organizations say the
number is much higher. "Now our bills already contain impressions in
relief that are detectable by touch," said Jaime Pacreu, director of
issuing at the Central Bank. "We will make the impressions more
specific, easier to find and easier to distinguish." Mexican currency
has five types of bills and seven coins. Bernardo Rodriguez, director of
the Mexican Institute for the Integral Development of the Blind,
welcomed the change. "A little braille mark would be a great help to
prevent the blind from being swindled," he said.


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