[mountainstate] [leadership] notice sent out on currency issue by NAMA

[A. C. McGhee]

The U.S.  Department of the Treasury has opposed the American 
Council for the Blind's ongoing attempts to have the Court of 
Appeals set specific dates for currency redesign, the National 
Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) reported.

The American Council for the Blind (ACB) has requested the court 
direct the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish specific dates by 
which the currency will be redesigned.  They also requested that 
the Secretary submit a detailed implementation plan describing 
specific steps to implement three accommodations selected by the 
Secretary to provide meaningful access to U.S.  currency to the 
blind and visually impaired: 1) adding a raised tactile feature 
2) continuing to add large, high-contrast numerals and different 
colors and 3) implementing a supplemental currency reader 
distribution program for blind and other visually impaired U.S.  
citizens and legal residents.

The Department of the Treasury has opposed the ACB's request 
arguing that the timing to provide meaningful access should 
remain tied to the next redesign of the currency for counterfeit 
deterrence.

In a declaration filed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 
Director Larry Felix set forth the steps already taken to date to 
comply with the 2008 Order by the Court, NAMA noted.

NAMA reported that the BEP has made significant progress in 
identifying the best approach to provide meaningful access and 
the recommendations were included in the report submitted by the 
Secretary of the Treasury to the court for approval.

Secretary Felix argues that the BEP has made significant progress 
toward implementing the Secretary's decision including 
incorporating large, high contrast and different colors on the 
currency, NAMA noted.  This feature has already been incorporated 
into currency redesign beginning in 2003.

The BEP is also working on the development of the currency reader 
program and working on methods of distributing these readers to 
the blind and visually impaired, NAMA noted.  The BEP has taken 
extensive steps to access the viability of various tactile 
features including looking into the features incorporated into 
foreign currency.

In the interim, the BEP unveiled a mobile device application to 
increase accessibility to Federal Reserve Notes, NAMA noted.  The 
matter will now be decided by the Court of Appeals.  For more 
information, contact Sandy Larson at slarson at vending.org