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If “Equal Access” Affects Public Accommodations, What Does It Mean for Public Websites?

Legal form with "Civil Case" and "Civil Rights" checkedWhile businesses are familiar with laws that enable those with disabilities to access and navigate brick-and-mortar stores and offices, many are getting caught off guard with how the expectations of access and usability are being applied to websites. After all, Internet dependence is growing as daily functions—scheduling appointments, making purchases, banking, applying for jobs, and more—increasingly move online.

Federal and state governments have clear mandates for online accessibility. Is the private sector affected by similar expectations for digital inclusion? If websites don’t permit people with disabilities to navigate a screen or perceive content, what are the legal ramifications? Does inaccessibility leave an organization vulnerable to an accessibility lawsuit or demand letter?

In a recent commentary article written for Mealey’s™ Litigation Report: Cyber Tech & E-Commerce, Microassist CTO Hiram Kuykendall discusses some recent high-profile web accessibility litigation. These cases are shaping the discussion about what “equal access” means in the digital realm. The article, Accessibility-Related Factors in Current Litigation, also addresses the goal for providing accessible websites for the blind or visually impaired, as well as:

  • The standards by which accessibility is judged — including federal and state laws (such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Texas Administrative Code Sections 206 and 213), as well as internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0).
  • How website accessibility compliance is determined — and what website accessibility tests can be applied.
  • Barriers to website accessibility compliance — and their impact on accessible development and remediation.

Request Your Free Copy of Accessibility-Related Factors in Current Litigation

As society’s reliance on web-based services and mobile has grown, so have legal actions against companies with websites, mobile apps, and web applications that people with disabilities cannot use well.

To better understand accessibility-related legal challenges facing businesses and other organizations, please complete the form below. We’ll send you a free copy of Accessibility-Related Factors in Current Litigation.

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This article reprinted from the April 2016 issue of Mealey’s™ Litigation Report: Cyber Tech & E-Commerce. Mealey’s is a subscription-based information provider and a division of Lexis Nexis.