What's in Your Wallet?
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled this week on a case that could give money a makeover. In American Council of the Blind v Paulson, the court ruled that United States’ paper currency is inherently discriminatory to the blind and those with impaired vision because all bills are the same size, regardless of value.
I, for one, will be the first to admit that I’m not a big fan of change (pun intended). But reading the stories of blind people who’ve been cheated or ripped off by cashiers who take advantage of their lack of sight – and of our homogenous currency – I’ll happily herald the court’s decision as a huge step in the right direction toward accommodating individuals with disabilities.
What will this mean for our wallets? Not sure yet. The Treasury Department is examining ways to differentiate denominations, whether by color, texture, size or shape, but it could be awhile before any concrete changes hit the mint.