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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.
US currency is the easiest to forge in the world. You take a $1 bill, wash it clean and reprint it with a $100 bill. This will really increase the costs to forgers, and they should sue the treasury for loss of earnings.
Then blind people can carry around a conveniently sized RFID reader.
Just swipe past the reader and it'll tell you how much money is in your wallet. Or is that the amount in the next person's wallet? Ok, forget it.
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The cost to retool the machinery is significant. I don't know where they'd be able to scrape together that sort of cash.
Scratch and sniff.
Make each bill smell like something else. Make a five smell like coffee, since thats what a coffee at starbucks costs. Ten smells like pizza. Twenty smells like chinese food, and a hundred smells like fine leather.
The one doesn't smell like a damn thing, since you can't do much with it anyway.
They're called debit card readers.
Seriously, I worked with some blind people in college and they would just use a credit/debit card for everything.
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Slowly slip your finger into the crease. Rub the tips of your index finger along the outer edge and blow softly to smooth over the fibers.
Now wet your finger with your tongue and ever so delicately pinch the corner between your thumb and forefinger.
That's it. Slowly. Just like that, baby. Mmm..
On a trip to the states a while back, in a dimly lit strip club, I accidentally gave several $20 bills to a stripper instead of $1s, got a bit more than I bargained for. Wouldn't say it was a waste exactly, but you can't claim that shit back on expenses!
Oh no... it's the future.
Different sizes doesn't help at all, blind people are completely incapable of judging size anyway as it has no meaning to them; theirs is a world without size, colour, distance or space. I have a blind friend, so I am well aware of their plight. What I do for him is to regularly cut his money into different shapes, for example I would cut all his £5 notes into stars, £10's into zigzags and £20's into smiling faces. He has no trouble distinguishing his money now, although it is no longer legal tender and serves no purpose.
If we get rid of the dollar bill, what are people supposed to use at strip bars? A five is a little bit much for most people and I can't imagine having underwear full of coins is helpful when dancing. Please people, think of the strippers.
Ain't going to happen. Europe does it (as well as integrating a whole bunch of additional anti-counterfeit measures), so it must be un-American. Never mind the blind, God (with a capital G) must hate them or they wouldn't be blind, right ? Also, it could help the terrorists. Dollar notes are just fine the way they are.
Finding a hot chick must be pretty hard as well. I mean, I guess you feel her to make sure she doesn't have any moles or a moustache, but how can you feel pretty? Can't be done.
I wish I could verify that with my wallet.... :(
Mine holds a wad of £50 notes quite easily. Where do you live?
I'm gonna need a spec.
Blind people don't really need free wheelchairs...
Tesla was a genius. Edison however was a overrated hack who liked to torture puppies.
and for more improvement, we could print the value of the card on the outside of the card. and have a bunch of cards in varying amounts of money so if you lose one you don't lose all your money. we could make them green to distinguish them from other cards. maybe put some pictures of dead presidents on them.
1. Use hole-punching so blind can read bills.
2. Punch the $100 hole pattern in current $1 bills.
3. Profit!
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Also, the bills that came out of the Treasury with hanging chads would be worth more as a collectors' item.
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How does she know? (Couldn't let that one go I'm afraid)
Yeah for one thing you can't stuff debit cards down a stripper's thong. And clubs already charge extra for blind people.
Eight of those will make a Starman.
What I want to know is, where is this gas station, where blind people are lining up to pay $5 in cash to get gas for their car? I don't want to be ANYWHERE near where blind people are driving!!!!
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
Plus, we get none of that " 98 x $1 bills wrapped in two $100s " con over here! ;-)
:/
Yeah, that one got me just last week.
I love my sig.
After a trip to Aus and NZ I had some left over bills. A little wrinkled, but fit for framing (I've got a frame with currency from about 25 nations). I hadn't paid enough attention to realize they were plastic based (hats off to the folks making them. Great quality)) and ironed a NZ $10. It contracted like a piece of shrink tubing.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
What I want to know is, will we finally be able to ditch the Illuminati pyramid and eye and get rid of the crazy Latin phrases?
Maybe something more American, like "Either you're with us or you're against us." ha.
insert the coin into. . . eh, nevermind