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Meaningful Access Program


On May 31, 2011, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner approved the methods that the Department of the Treasury is pursuing to provide blind and visually impaired individuals with meaningful access to U.S. currency. 
 

The following accommodations are based on feedback from a comprehensive visual impairment study and feedback from the public:

  • A Raised, Tactile Feature:  The development of a raised tactile feature to U.S. currency unique to each Federal Reserve note that it may lawfully change, which will provide users with a means of identifying each denomination via touch.  Currently, U.S. law prohibits any changes to the $1 Federal Reserve note.

  • High Contrast Numerals:  Continuing the program of adding large high contrast numerals and different colors to each denomination that it is permitted by law to alter.

  • A Currency Reader Program:  Implementing a currency reader distribution program for blind and visually impaired U.S. citizens and those legally residing in the U.S.
     

Status Reports

To learn more about the progress of the meaningful access initiative, view the below status reports: