Blind Man Sues Brookstone Over Website's Alleged Discrimination

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A blind individual has filed suit against Brookstone Company, Inc. claiming the defendant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and various state civil rights laws by failing to make its website fully accessible to the blind population. The plaintiff alleges that Brookstone.com contains various access barriers that prevent him from completing a transaction and enjoying the goods and services offered on the site. From the complaint:

“Despite readily available accessible technology, such as the technology in use at other heavily trafficked retail websites, which makes use of alternative text, accessible forms, descriptive links, resizable text and limits the usage of tables and JavaScript, Defendant has chosen to rely on an exclusively visual interface.”

The suit argues that blind individuals are denied access to a store locator with information about locations, hours of operation, and contact information; an online store allowing customers to order various products; information about store policy; and special sales available at Brookstone stores. The plaintiff says the defendant has discriminated against him and proposed class members by failing to remove the purported access barriers on its site.