The dollar’s (potential) new look
A federal appeals court ruled recently that the United States discriminates against the blind and those with limited vision because its paper currency is all the same size regardless of a bill’s value. This could mean that the dollar bill and its 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 dollar counterparts will be getting a completely new design.
The new design will incorporate features that help visually impaired people distinguish more easily between the different bank notes. This can be achieved through different sizes for different bills, various colors, and imprints that can be felt to distinguish the value of the currency.
The European Union’s Euro banknotes already incorporate designs to help the visually impaired. As the Euro increases in value, so does the size of the banknote. So the 5 Euro banknote is the smallest and the 500 Euro banknote is the largest. The Euros also alternate in color with each monetary increment (5, 10, 20, 50, etc)–going from “cool” colors to “warm” colors. 
The smaller currencies also have a metal strip that can be easily felt and all currencies have special ink on the denomination numbers so that sensitive fingers can feel the difference between the other ink.
I hope that the United States will incorporate some of the designs of the Euro, so that all people will be able to handle their own money (currently, many blind people rely on others to tell them the denomination of the dollars they handle). Although it will be a difficult transition for the United States to switch to currency with new bank note designs (vending machines, wallets, cash registers), I think it will be a great statement about the United States’ commitment to equality for the disabled.
Comment by Anonymous on 21 May 2008 at 10:53 pm:
Let’s see what the Supreme Court says first.
Comment by Segen on 21 May 2008 at 10:58 pm:
Correct, we should wait to see what the Supreme Court says…but in all honesty, I don’t think the other side has as strong of a case as the side that wants to have a different, more disabled-friendly design. Although a new design will call for a transition in certain products that take money, like vending machines, it will be hard to go up against a group that is claiming that by keeping the dollars as is, America is being anti-disabled.
Besides, the US dollar has seen some changes in design in the last few years. Remember the “old” twenties? People get used to the new stuff.
Comment by Buck B. on 22 May 2008 at 8:10 am:
This issues was illustrated quite vividly in the movie “Ray”, where Ray Charles insisted on being paid in singles so he couldn’t be cheated.
Ten years ago, I would have been against this as an unnecessary expense. But with the Treasury Department revamping paper currency every few year now, it doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal to add some blind-friendly features the next time they make the ten mauve or add some cartoons of Hamilton or whatever. It’s too bad it has to come as a result of a court battle rather than simply because it’s a good idea.
I think the different-sized bills, is going too far, though. That would require a lot more adaptation of both habits and technology than some of the other methods.