Paper money in the U.S. currency system discriminates against the visually impaired, because all bills are of the same size, feel, and color scheme regardless of denomination, a federal appeals court in the District of Columbia ruled on Tuesday.

The 2-1 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that the U.S. Treasury Department’s existing paper currency system amounts to a “denial of meaningful access” under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that protects the rights of the disabled. The court also found that the Treasury Department failed to show that other reasonable, non-discriminatory alternatives to the existing paper currency system would be too burdensome. The Washington Post reports that the Council of the Blind – the original plaintiff in the case – ‘‘has suggested distinguishing bills of different amounts by changing their size, adding embossed dots or foil to the paper, or using raised ink."

  • Read Tuesday’s Decision (FindLaw) [PDF file]
  • Washington Post: Court Agrees That Paper Money Discriminates Against the Blind
  • N.Y. Times: Ruling on U.S. Currency and the Blind
  • Disability Discrimination (FindLaw)
  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (FindLaw)

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Civil Rights

Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court

Criminal

Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records

Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules