If you think so then you are right!
According to a ruling by U.S. appeals court paper money currently used in USA does discriminate against blind and visually impaired people.
Two judges were in favor of this judgement while one went against it. In it detailed judgement the court said:
A paper currency designed for the sighted means that millions of visually impaired individuals are dependent on the kindness of others in using U.S. currency.
US neighbour Canada has put “embossed dots” on its currency notes that vary by denomination, while the Euro includes a foil feature that can be detected by touch. On the other hand USA is using bills that are the same in size and color in all denominations.
The Treasury Department said it was reviewing the ruling although court didn’t say anything as to how and when it should be done. They could appeal against this judgement or take it to Supreme Court because it will be quite a task to convert all currency notes at the moment. In 2005 nearly $760 billion worth of currency was in circulation, with an estimated half to two-thirds being held overseas.
Mark Richert, director of public policy for the American Council of the Blind said:
This is an important victory for people who are blind and visually impaired. We look forward to the day when people with vision loss have as reliable access to paper money as everyone else.
According to statistics by National Academy of Sciences, there are 3.7 million visually impaired or partially blind people in USA out of which 200,000 are totally blind.
It all started six yeas ago when the American Council of the Blind sued the Treasury Department on behalf of two men whose vision was badly impaired. They were of the view that money is “an essential ingredient of independent living, yet for millions of Americans with blindness or low vision, it is impossible to recognize the denomination of bank notes.
Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind had earlier described it as publicity stunt.
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