The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Legislative News
Court says
May 21, 2008
For those who did not hear the evening news stories last night, there was a big court decision that occurred yesterday that many various blind advocacy associations or organizations had been following closely.
Court says
By Sandra Block,
A federal appeals court ruled
Tuesday that the
The ruling could force the government to change the size, shape or texture of the bills in your wallet.
The decision was a victory for the American Council of the Blind, which has been fighting the case in court for nearly six years. The court ruled that the current system violates the federal Rehabilitation Act, which was intended to ensure that people with disabilities could fully participate in society.
The court noted that most other
nations' currency systems have accommodated the blind.
READ THE RULING:
Appeals court rules paper money discriminatory
The Justice Department is reviewing the decision. If it decides to appeal the 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel, the government could seek a hearing by the full appellate court. Or it could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case.
In a statement, the Treasury said the Bureau of Engraving and Printing has hired a research firm to study ways to help the blind and visually impaired.
The results of that study will be available by early 2009, Treasury said.
In contesting the lawsuit, the Treasury had argued that changing the size of currency denominations could force companies to spend billions of dollars to redesign their vending machines. In addition, Treasury noted, the blind and visually impaired can use credit cards instead of cash.
But forcing blind people to ask strangers for help identifying denominations makes them vulnerable to fraud, says Eric Bridges, director of government affairs for the American Council of the Blind.
"I rely upon the kindness of people," says Bridges, who is totally blind. "You can't imagine how frustrating that is. It's money that I've earned. I should be able to independently tell what I've got."
The council isn't recommending a specific solution, Bridges says. But he says it wants the government to address the problem with help from visually impaired people.
At least one advocacy group,
the National Federation of the Blind, opposes the council's lawsuit. The
federation doesn't oppose making changes to
Visually impaired people use
Maurer, who is completely blind, says he's been using currency for nearly 50 years and doesn't believe he's ever been defrauded.
"If I'm in a grocery store line," he says, "I hold up the bill and say, 'What is this?' Nobody is tempted to lie to you under those circumstances."
"Relying on strangers," Maurer adds, "is not the end of the world."
Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-05-20-money-discrimination_N.htm
The Blinded Veterans Association will continue to update everyone as this is reviewed by the Treasury Department, Congress, and White House.
Tom Zampieri
Director Government Relations
Blinded Veterans Association
BVA's Legislative Alerts Group
End of Document