HKSB in the Media
Comptroller Calls for Currency to Accommodate Those with Vision Problems
Staten Island Advance
June 2, 2008
New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. today urged the U.S. Treasury to heed the decision made recently by the federal appeals court, which found that U.S. currency discriminates against people with vision problems.
“More than 100 countries vary in size of their paper currency, or add other features that can be distinguished by touch, in order to assist those who are sight impaired.” Thompson wrote as part of his letter to the Treasury, calling for them to adopt this new type of currency which would allow vision-impaired people to differentiate between bills instead of appealing.
Thompson was joined by representatives from the American Council of the Blind, which initiated the lawsuit back in 2002.
Other organizations such as the Helen Keller Services for the Blind voiced their opinions stating that with the current money system, the simple of act of purchasing an item becomes an act of trust and a lot of times the blind person is getting cheated out of money that is rightfully theirs.
Numerous other organizations that are designed to help the vision impaired made their stance on this issue known, all making statements calling for the change to happen now. Some called for color changes to help those who are color blind.
Photo appearing with this article:
New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. holds a news conference on Monday, June 02, 2008 to urge the United States Treasury not to challenge a federal court ruling finding that American currency discriminates against the blind and visually impaired. Pictured (l to r) are: Alberta Orr, Executive Director of the Disabilities Network of New York City; Thompson; and Dawn Savino, Director of Information Services & Technology Training for VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Photo credit: Marla S. Maritzer
