Tactile features on currency notes are used in many countries around the world, which allows citizens with visual impairments to handle money more easily. Canada’s currency notes are printed with a tactile feature in the corner so that visually impaired citizens can easily tell what denomination they’re holding.
So are the currency notes in Bahrain, Thailand, Malawi, and Hong Kong. NPR recently reported that Australia is in the process of updating its currency notes to include tactile features, too.
Other countries have taken things a step further. Chilean currency uses tactile features and high-contrast colors. In Brazil, the tactile features are paired with a difference in size for each denomination, which makes the notes even easier to identify.
Accessible currency notes make the world more inclusive. We hope the trend continues, and more countries update their currency notes with accessibility in mind.