Disability Discrimination Act

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More retailers under the hammer for inaccessible websites

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A new wave of lawsuits has begun in the USA with Kmart, McDonald’s, Sears, Ace Hardware, and GrubHub among the latest to be sued by blind and vision-impaired people for having inaccessible websites that exclude them from ordering products online.

Judges gavel hammer

Judges gavel hammer

A blind woman is alleging in the Chicago federal court that three major retailers are denying her, and similarly vision-impaired people, access to their websites in violation of US federal law. Kayla Reed filed suits on 8 September against hardware retailer Ace Hardware, flooring retailer Empire Today and discount store chain Kmart.

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Americans with Disabilities Act
Disability Discrimination Act
Law
Digital media and technology: 
Assistive technology
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News alert taxonomy: 
Blind/vision impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news

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Five Guys burger chain in a pickle over website inaccessibility

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On 21 July 2017, a US federal district court in Manhattan rejected a ‘motion to dismiss’ claim by the ‘Five Guys’ burger chain (Case No. 17-cv-788) defending their alleged inaccessible website. The judge found that there is indeed a case of discrimination to answer against a legally-blind customer who couldn’t order the burger they wanted from the fast food seller’s site.

A ‘Five Guys’ burger with beef and cheese

A ‘Five Guys’ burger with beef and cheese.

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Web
News
Americans with Disabilities Act
Disability Discrimination Act
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Legal
Legislation
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
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Uber sued for only having 0.3% accessible cars

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A New York disability advocacy group is taking the world’s biggest ride-share company to court in New York, accusing Uber of being rotten to the core by not providing an accessible service in the Big Apple.

Uber on smartphone with an accessible taxi in background

Uber on smartphone with an accessible taxi in background

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News
Americans with Disabilities Act
Disability Discrimination Act
Law

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Legal win for Deaf couple against hospital with ineffective communication

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A high-profile hospital in Texas has settled a lawsuit which alleged that their communications for Deaf patients were ineffective, in a landmark legal outcome with far-reaching implications for the medical profession. It has been reported that the July 2017 settlement will encourage others, who are being discriminated against in terms of inaccessible processes and information, to take similar action.

Lawsuit sign

Lawsuit sign

The Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, in Edinburg Texas, is a physician-owned hospital with a prominent Cancer treatment centre, and this lawsuit settlement comes after six years of the plaintiffs trying to get the facility to be more accessible for people who are Deaf or hearing-impaired.

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News
Americans with Disabilities Act
Disability Discrimination Act
Law
Disability
Deaf or hearing impaired

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Online retail web accessibility guide

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Now that a legal case has been brought against Coles for a lack of web accessibility of its online shopping site, and that a similar case in the US against online grocer Peapod has been settled, it’s time for online retailers to act on improving access for people with disabilities.

Man browsing website on a MacBook Air

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General
Web
News
Practical web accessibility
Disability Discrimination Act
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
Web browsers
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Smartphones

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Legal action against Coles over website accessibility

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Legal proceedings have begun against supermarket chain Coles over the accessibility of its online shopping service, with users reporting that they cannot buy groceries online.

Wooden gavel resting on computer keyboard

The claim was lodged earlier this week by Gisele Mesnage, who has a vision impairment. Due to complex navigation, it has reportedly taken Ms Mesnage up to eight hours to complete an order online. The action follows a complaint being made through the Australian Human Rights Commission, which was unable to be resolved.

Taxonomy: 
General
Web
News
Practical web accessibility
Disability Discrimination Act
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Digital media and technology: 
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Web browsers

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How to improve media access: complain

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People with disabilities have been urged to make formal complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission in order to encourage governments to make positive changes to policy.

Speaking at the National Disability Forum 2014, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs, said the complaints process was one of the most effective ways to help the commission advocate on behalf of people with disabilities.

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General
Research & policy
News
AHRC, Australian Human Rights Commission
Disability Discrimination Act
TV access
Sensory impairment
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired

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Cinema and DVD

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA) has been the major policy instrument which has provided access in to cinemas and DVDs in Australia. There are no legislative requirements for access in these media.

Taxonomy: 
Australian policy and legislation
Captions
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Cinema
Audio description
Disability Discrimination Act

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