Two rulings that could improve web accessibility

A federal court in California judged two landmark decisions in a nationwide class action against Target Corporation. First, the court certified the case as a class action on behalf of blind Internet users throughout the country under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Second, the court held that Web sites such as target.com are required by California law to be accessible.

"All e-commerce businesses should take note of this decision and immediately take steps to open their doors to the blind," comments the President of the National Federation of the Blind, Dr. Marc Maurer.

The rulings were issued in a case brought by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). The suit charges that Target failed and refused to make its Web site (www.target.com) accessible to the blind and, therefore, violated the ADA as well as two California civil rights statutes: the California Unruh Civil Rights Act and the California Disabled Persons Act.

The court granted the plaintiffs' motion to certify a nationwide class under the ADA for injunctive relief. The court also granted the plaintiffs' motion to certify a California subclass for both injunctive relief and statutory minimum damages. The court denied Target's motion for summary judgment.

These rulings could be a real wake up call for those that have overlooked the need for accessible websites and if taken further, could have a dramatic effect on existing businesses who would need to extensively revamp their Internet initiatives.