Advocacy Center News

Notice: NFB v. Target Corporation

A lawsuit has been brought against Target Corporation (“Target”) concerning the Target.com website. In the lawsuit, Plaintiffs allege that Target.com has, during the period of time covered by the lawsuit, failed to contain features needed by blind customers who use screen access software to access websites. Plaintiffs allege that U.S. and California law require websites such as Target.com to be accessible to the blind. Target disputes this and alleges that it has not violated any federal or state laws relating to its website.

The lawsuit, National Federation of the Blind v. Target Corp. (Case No. 06-01802 MHP), is proceeding as a class action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Marilyn Hall Patel. The Court has certified the following two classes:

  1. a nationwide class for claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”); and
  2. a California class for claims under two California state civil rights laws – the Unruh Civil Rights Act and the Disabled Persons Act.

Plaintiffs allege that during the time period covered by the case, Target failed to make its website accessible to the blind by, among other things:

  1. Failing to provide labels for pictures and other images that can be read by screen access software (these labels are called “alt tags” by web designers);
  2. Failing to ensure that all functions can be performed with a keyboard and not just a mouse;
  3. Failing to ensure that forms for website visitors to fill-out on-line are labeled in ways the screen access software can recognize;
  4. Failing to include marked headings within each page that can be recognized by screen access software so that blind people can easily navigate the site. Target contends that it has taken steps to make its goods and services accessible.

For more information, visit www.NFBtargetlawsuit.com

The Protection and Advocacy System for Louisiana ~ Serving People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens

Advocacy Center
1010 Common Street, Suite 2600
New Orleans, LA 70112
1.800.960.7705 (Voice) • 1.866.935.7348 (TTY)
Email Us • Disclaimer

For information in Spanish please call 1-800-960-7705, ext. 152.
Para información en español por favor llame 1-800-960-7705, ext. 152.

For information in Vietnamese please call 1-800-960-7705, ext. 153.
Để đòi hỏi những công tác (dịch vụ) bàng tiếng Việt, xin gọi 1-800-960-7705, mở rộng 153.