Slashdot Mirror
Judge Says U.S. Money Violates Rights of the Blind
An anonymous reader writes, "The United States is one of the few countries in the world whose currency isn't distinguishable by blind people. Most other nations use raised text, different-sized bills, or other methods to assist blind people in spending their money. If a recent decision by a federal court in D.C. survives appeal, however, that will soon change. Under Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, federal programs cannot deny 'meaningful access' to people with disabilities. Because blind people are unable to distinguish U.S. currency without assistance, the court held that they are denied meaningful access to their own money. U.S. District Judge James Robertson ordered the Treasury Department to come up with ways for the blind to tell bills apart. He said he wouldn't tell officials how to fix the problem, but he ordered them to begin working on it." How Appealing notes that Judge Robertson opened the door to a speedy appeal of his ruling.
No one should be handling cash anymore. It is filthy and sucks for all the reasons mentioned in the article.
Credit cards and direct deposit now exist and you can stop living in fear that someone is going to mug you for your cash. It also gives you a good excuse to feel no guilt as you walk past a homeless person.
Got change?
No. I got debt.
Integrating the blind into our cashless society would be a far better thing than to stick them with those dirty rags we call greenbacks.
So the size of the bills determines how much useless change you have in your pocket...
If that's the case you're not an Anonymous Coward but an Anonymous Idiot...
wow, i sense that somebody touched a nerve. When I read it, I assumed he was unfamiliar w/ the EU currencies but had seen (and disliked) the chinese currencies. Maybe there is some subconscious victimization complex at work here.
I'm not blind but I generally walk to ATMs. Why would he need to drive? I'm sure I must be missing something.
;-)
;-)
you're probably missing the extra 200 pounds the lard-assed American at the drive-in ATM has
(Please feel free to mod as flamebait
----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
Travelling forward in time at a rate of 1 second per second.
There's no reason whatsoever other than laziness for not modernising the US currency.
You seem to have neglected the millions that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing would spend modifying their processes, not to mention the billions it would cost to upgrade all the cash-counting machinery owned by private businesses.
Hey, since you're so generous, why don't we just draft you and others who share your opinion to be full-time money-handling assistants for the blind? Think of the warm, fuzzy feelings you'll get from actually helping people yourself instead of just waving your hands and proclaiming that a problem exists only because of laziness!
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
True, to damn true. Be politicly correct, cater to the lowest common denominator, watch country go down the toilet.
The whole PC idea is to lie about everything so no one gets offended. Well that concept offends me so it failed!
Professional Politicians are not the solution, they ARE the problem.
You know..the first thing I thought when seeing this, was "Ok, what's next? Do we not have to have all credit card swipe readers somehow display the digits raised so blind people can read the digits too?"
Look, I feel for the handicapped....and I'm for helping them when it is practical, but, when it comes to something like changing all our money, something the overwhelming majority of people can deal with....do we have to cater to every minorities needs?
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Lame. Heard this argument, if you could call it that, about a million times. Who really gives a damn about the strippers? I don't.
Republicans are idiots.