[Blindtlk] Money Identifier Coming

[David Andrews]

Roll Call



Thousands of 'Currency Readers' in the Pipeline for the Blind

By Anne L. Kim Posted at 4:31 p.m. on June 11



While a $1 bill means something entirely different than a $100 bill, 
they might not feel too different to the visually impaired. The 
government is ready to do something about that challenge, though.



The Bureau of Engraving and Printing expects to distribute between 
100,000 and 500,000 "currency readers" to the blind and others who 
are visually impaired, says Larry R. Felix, director of the bureau in 
written testimony for a House Financial Services Committee hearing today.



In a report last year, the Government Accountability Office described 
the gizmos as "portable electronic devices capable of speaking the 
denomination of a bill out loud."



The effort is part of a response by the Treasury Department to a 
court ruling several years ago that directed the department to 
provide the blind and visually impaired with meaningful access to currency.



"We plan to launch a pilot program this summer and roll the program 
out nationally in 2015. The project plan is under joint development 
and will be operated by the BEP an the LOC/NLS," Felix said in his 
statement. LOC/NLS is the Library of Congress' service for the blind 
and physically handicapped. Felix said the office helped to develop 
the readers.









         David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org