American Council of the Blind v. Paulson

2008

Venue: DC Cir

Facts: American currency discriminates against the blind.

Posture: Appeal from a declaratory judgment that US currency design violates the Rehabilitation Act.

Issue: Does this violate the act?

Holding: Yes.

Rule: You can't deny people access to things on the basis of a disability when feasible accomodations exist.

Reasoning: Without looking, you can't tell the difference between $1 and $5.

Other countries manage to get around this.


Dicta: Dissent: The rehabilitation act is not violated if the accomodations would represent an undue burden.