[tabi] Fw: Free Currency Readers
- From: "Betsy Sawyers" <betsaw@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:17:08 -0400
Apologies if this is old news,but thought it worth a mention in case some
haven’t heard about it.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Begins Distributing Currency Readers
by Melanie Brunson
For some time now, the U.S. government has been talking about its plans to
distribute currency reader devices to people who are blind or visually impaired
in order to make it possible for them to identify the denomination of U.S.
banknotes independently. Officials have said repeatedly that this is the first
phase of their program to provide meaningful access to U.S. paper currency. It
is aimed at providing independent access to the inaccessible banknotes that are
currently in circulation, as well as those that will continue to circulate
while future banknotes containing a tactile feature are being developed and put
into circulation.
I am happy to report that phase is currently under way. The Bureau of
Engraving and Printing officially began the first phase of its currency reader
distribution program at the summer conventions of the nations blindness
organizations, including ACB. I was advised that several hundred units were
distributed by Bureau of Engraving and Printing staff in the exhibit hall at
the ACB conference and convention in Las Vegas.
If you werent at the convention and are interested in getting your hands on
one of these scanners, here is what you need to know about this program.
First, yes, the currency readers are being provided at no cost to blind or
visually impaired people who are either U.S. citizens, or are legally residing
in the U.S. or any of its territories. Between now and January 2015, only
those individuals who are currently eligible to receive braille and talking
book services from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped (NLS) are eligible to receive these currency readers. The program
was rolled out during the NFB and ACB conventions, but only those individuals
who are current users of the NLS services could apply. A brief form was
completed by each individual requesting the information necessary to verify the
persons eligibility with NLS prior to issuance of the scanner.
Those who did not attend the July conferences may still have the opportunity to
receive a scanner. Other current patrons of a library that is part of the NLS
network, as well as users of the BARD download program, can sign up for a free
currency reader. There are several ways to sign up. If you want to sign up by
phone, you can either call your library, or you can call NLS at 1-888-NLS-READ
(thats 1-888-657-7323). Your request will be noted in your account with NLS,
and beginning this month, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing will start
mailing the units to people at the addresses they have on file with the
National Library Service.
Remember that until January 2015, only individuals who are users of the NLS
braille and talking book program are eligible. It is not currently possible to
order one on behalf of someone else or for an organization. Parents or legal
guardians of children under age 18 can request them on behalf of the child, but
the child must be a current user of the NLS program.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing plans to expand the program beginning in
January 2015. At that time, they will make currency readers available to
people who are not part of the NLS program. In order to receive a free
currency reader, one must obtain certification from a medical professional that
they are blind or visually impaired. The form that is required can be
downloaded from www.bep.gov. This form can also be used by anyone who might
like to sign up for a free currency reader and at the same time, apply to
receive access to braille or talking books from NLS. The form can be
downloaded, completed, and mailed to NLS at the address provided on the
application.
Please allow six to eight weeks to receive your currency reader, especially if
you order it near or after January 2015.
The currency readers that are being distributed by the government will read the
denomination of U.S. banknotes only. Users can have this information spoken
out loud or listen to it through earbuds plugged into a jack on the machine.
The machine can also be set to emit vibrations or tones instead of speaking the
information out loud. For those readers who are familiar with the iBill money
readers from Orbit Research, this is the unit that is now being distributed by
the government.
For those who would like to learn more about what the government is doing to
insure that blind and visually impaired people have independent access to the
information on U.S. currency, the government will now provide email updates.
Visit the web site of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing at www.bep.gov and
sign up to receive updates by e-mail. You can also check this site
periodically for updates. We will keep you posted on further developments as
well.
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