On May 20, 2010, the Department of the Treasury and Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) issued a notice in the Federal Register. The purposes of this notice are to inform the public of the features that BEP intends to propose to the Secretary of the Treasury to accommodate people who are blind and visually impaired in denominating U.S. currency and to solicit public comment on the proposed accommodations. Public comments closed on August 18, 2010. The notice and comments may still be viewed in the Federal Register.
We encourage the public to comment in any of the following ways:
Meaningful Access
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Office of External Relations
14th and C Streets, SW, Room 530-1M
Washington, D.C. 20228
As part of the public comment process, BEP hosted two open public forums simultaneously at the Washington, DC and Fort Worth, TX facilities on June 22, 2010. BEP representatives were available to collect public comments.
Transcripts of the Meaningful Access Public Forum are available at www.regulations.gov.
BEP Participation at Blind and Visually Impaired Organization's Summer 2010 Conventions
BEP representatives attended the annual conventions for the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and American Council of the Blind (ACB) in July to provide updates on the BEP's progress to provide meaningful access to U.S. currency by blind and visually impaired individuals. The BEP held two open forum discussions at each event.
Comments discussed at the open forum discussions will assist in providing meaningful access to U.S. currency.
Visual Impairment Study and Process to Create Meaningful Access to Denominate U.S. Currency
A comprehensive study analyzing options for the blind and visually impaired community to denominate U.S. currency was submitted to the BEP in July 2009. The study's findings were considered by the BEP in evaluating potential accommodations as to the best method(s) for allowing those who are blind and visually impaired to denominate U.S. paper currency.
Visual Impairment Study and Appendices
Read the American Council for the Blind court order injunction (filed October 3, 2008).
As more information is available regarding the Department of the Treasury's progress in creating meaningful access to U.S. currency, it will be posted on this website.
