A lawsuit against Target has now achieved class action status, in a claim that the retailer’s web site is inaccessible to the blind, therefore violating federal and state discrimination laws. This story is making headlines and is bouncing around the web as if this is something new. In reality, back in 1996 the U.S. Justice Department ruled that Web sites are public accommodations and must therefore offer access to the disabled to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). What does this mean? It means that designing with the needs of the disabled is the law, and companies that don’t take their needs into account can and will be penalized.
This may scare some site owners because they are worried about being sued. In reality, designing a site to be accessible isn’t terribly complicated, and besides the fact that you will not be alienating the disabled, you could benefit by inviting a whole new channel of shoppers into your web site. I have read several reports that claim disabled web shoppers are some of the most loyal customers the web has to offer. Once they find a comfortable and convenient place to shop, they keep coming back.
Anyway, here are a few resources to help with accessible design guidelines: