Appeals court rules in favour of the blind on US currency

A federal appeals court has ruled that the US Treasury Department is violating law by refusing to issue currency that is readily distinguishable by blind and visually impaired people. This upholds a ruling from 2006 in US District Court. At issue was the claim that the failure by the US Treasury Department to ensure that US currency is readily distinguishable to the visually impaired constitutes a violation of the Rehabilitation Act, in as suit filed in 2002 by the American Council of the Blind. As stated by judge Rogers: "A large majority of other currency systems have accomodated the visually impaired, and the Secretary does not explain why U.S. currency should be any different."

Press coverage of this ruling can be found in various places, including CNN and Comcast.net.