The US treasury is now strongly considering changing the size of paper currency after a sustained appeal and legal action from the blind and partially sighted community in America. A Federal appeals court supported the claims that the same size for $1, $5, $10 and higher denomination bills was a barrier for blind and partially sighted citizens and visitors, and it is likely that the printing presses will eventually be changed. As an American citizen living in the UK, I can only say “It’s about time.” Even before becoming involved in accessibility & usability, I recall immediately seeing the sense in distinguishing bills with different sizes and colours the first time I saw British and European money. I remain impressed by this system every time I see blind users here or in Europe relatively easily distinguishing the right note for paying at a counter.
Even though blind and partially sighted Americans can employ workarounds with the current system (folding corners of their “greenbacks” or putting different denominations in different pockets are common strategies) it is still highly inconvenient and a con man’s dream.
Although no changes will happen before my next visit to the US (there is understandable inertia in changing the printing systems for the world’s biggest economy, not to mention the preceding legal tussles) I do look forward to seeing the different sizes and colours to the US Bills.
1 comment:
I recently had a discussion with a partially sighted test subject as to how they handled money and more specifically how they ensured that someone giving them money in the form of change was giving them the correct amount.
He advised that a lot of the time it was purely down to trust as some of the simpler methods he used (such as close examination of the notes in question) ran the risk of causing offence.
He mentioned Euro notes as a particular area of concern due to their similarity in size and design.
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