Last month, Reebok was hit with a proposed class action alleging that the company’s website violates the Americans with Disabilities Act because it is not accessible to the blind. The plaintiffs argue that Reebok.com contains “thousands of access barriers” that make it difficult —if not impossible — for blind customers to use the site. Because of this, the plaintiff is asking the court to require Reebok to fix its site and pay damages.

Although these types of cases have been on the rise in recent years, they still come as a surprise to many people who think of the ADA only in terms of physical barriers, like wheel chair ramps and handicapped parking spaces. In many instances, potential plaintiffs are reaching out to companies directly in lieu of filing a class action to effectuate a confidential settlement and revisions to the website to provide for ADA accessibility.

Read our article in Retailing Today for more information.

Lawsuit Over Website Accessibility Highlights Importance of Compliance