{"id":76112,"date":"2023-04-24T09:45:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T15:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/?p=76112"},"modified":"2025-12-07T16:29:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T16:29:54","slug":"web-accessibility-lawsuits-key-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vendasta.com\/blog\/web-accessibility-lawsuits-key-takeaways\/","title":{"rendered":"Web accessibility lawsuits: 4 Real-life examples and key takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In the US, over 61 million individuals live with disabilities (CDC<\/a>). Excluding such a large portion of the population represents an enormous missed opportunity in terms of business. Building accessible websites is paramount for moral and legal reasons. Offering accessible design as part of your web design services<\/a> is a major value-add for your clients and can surely set you apart from your competitors.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll introduce key points from the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and showcase some websites that incurred accessibility lawsuits. Additionally, we\u2019ll provide some tips and best practices that\u2019ll help you avoid costly legal issues and ensure your client\u2019s websites stay accessible to users.<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Why is web accessibility important?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Why is web accessibility important?<\/h2>\n

Web accessibility is a critical issue to consider when developing sites for your clients because inaccessible websites risk excluding visitors living with disabilities like hearing or vision impairment. Not only is this a form of discrimination, but it limits your client\u2019s business growth by excluding a group of potential customers.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, digital accessibility<\/a> can be a legal issue. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) stipulates that failing to make accommodations for individuals with disabilities is a form of discrimination. As such, website accessibility lawsuits are becoming more and more common. In 2022, over 3,200 website accessibility lawsuits were filed in the US (Codemantra<\/a>). For non-compliant businesses, these lawsuits represent enormous legal fees, fines, and bad press for failing to provide an accessible website.<\/p>\n

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What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)<\/h2>\n

The Americans with Disabilities Act<\/a> was developed to protect individuals living with disabilities from experiencing discrimination. The ADA was signed into law in 1990 and prohibits discrimination in employment, transportation, places of public accommodation (stores, restaurants, office buildings, etc.), communications, and more. Under the ADA, websites and other communications platforms are required to make accommodations for individuals living with disabilities.<\/p>\n

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines<\/a> (WCAG) were developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) to set an international standard for web content accessibility. It was created in an effort to comply with the ADA and improve the web browsing experience for individuals with disabilities. These guidelines help web designers think through the different accommodations that need to be made for individuals with disabilities to ensure they can browse websites freely. They are the gold standard when it comes to designing accessible websites<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Real-world examples of web accessibility lawsuits<\/h2>\n

If you think the chances of being affected by a web accessibility lawsuit are low, think again. These lawsuits are becoming increasingly common and can impact businesses of any size. Here are some recent examples to be aware of.<\/p>\n

Domino\u2019s Pizza vs. Guillermo Robles<\/h3>\n

In 2016, a blind man named Guillermo Robles filed a lawsuit against the pizza chain<\/a> Domino’s after several unsuccessful attempts to order a custom pizza through its online platform. Even with the assistance of screen-reader software, Robles could not place an order online.\u00a0 Robles cited the ADA in the lawsuit, insisting that Domino\u2019s has an obligation to make its website accessible for individuals with disabilities given that it\u2019s a business with physical locations (places of public accommodation).<\/p>\n

Domino\u2019s fought back, claiming that there are no clear guidelines for accommodating the ADA on web platforms because they did not exist in their current form when the law was instated in 1990.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the Supreme Court sided with Robles. In June 2021, a judge ruled that Domino\u2019s had violated the ADA<\/a> by failing to provide a website that was fully accessible, and the company was ordered to make its site compliant with WCAG 2.0 standards.<\/p>\n

Mary Conner vs. Parkwood Entertainment<\/h3>\n

In 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed against Beyonce\u0301\u2019s Parkwood Entertainment<\/a> company, claiming that the website beyonce.com is in violation of the ADA for failing to accommodate visually impaired visitors.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit argues that the website, a highly visual platform, failed to provide adequate alternative text on images throughout the site, making it impossible for blind visitors using screen reading software to adequately interpret or make purchases through the website. The lawsuit also lists other complaints about the website, including a lack of accessible navigational links and menus. The outcome of this lawsuit is still pending.<\/p>\n

Gil vs. Winn-Dixie<\/h3>\n

A 2017 lawsuit against the grocery retailer Winn-Dixie<\/a> accused the company of violating the ADA. Plaintiff Juan Carlos Gil brought forth the lawsuit after his screen reader was unable to interpret the website, preventing him from ordering products or accessing his account rewards. The plaintiff argued that the website should be considered a place of public accommodation, and thus, it must follow ADA guidelines.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, courts ultimately ruled in favor of Winn-Dixie, stating that customers who were unable to use the website could simply visit a storefront. However, despite winning the lawsuit, Winn-Dixie has committed to bringing its website into compliance with WCAG 2.0 standards to ensure it is fully accessible in the future.<\/p>\n

National Association of the Deaf vs. Harvard + MIT<\/h3>\n

In 2015, The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), in partnership with individual plaintiffs, filed lawsuits against both Harvard and MIT. These lawsuits asserted that each university violated the ADA for failing to make free online content equally accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.<\/p>\n

After multiple attempts by both universities to have these website accessibility lawsuits dismissed, their motions were repeatedly rejected by courts. In 2020, both lawsuits reached settlements<\/a> in which both Harvard and MIT are required to update publicly available online content to be equally accessible for individuals with hearing loss.<\/p>\n

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Website design tips and best practices for accessibility<\/h2>\n

Web accessibility is important from a moral standpoint. With an ADA compliant website, your clients can avoid discriminating against a portion of the population. Moreover, an inaccessible website excludes them from the benefits of your client\u2019s products or services. Follow these website design tips<\/a> to ensure you account for digital accessibility when designing websites.<\/p>\n

1. Understanding WCAG 2.1 guidelines<\/h3>\n

Understanding the WCAG 2.1 guidelines<\/a> is the first step to creating an ADA compliant website. The guidelines outline recommended accommodations for individuals with a wide range of disabilities, including vision impairment, blindness, hearing loss, photosensitivity, and more. The document is evolving, so anyone working in web development should stay informed on web accessibility standards and be prepared to adapt as new standards are introduced.<\/p>\n

The WCAG guidelines are very detailed, but some essential elements of an accessible website include the following:<\/p>\n