A 2010 Census Bureau report says that there are roughly 8.1 million visually-impaired people in the US, including 2.0 million who are legally blind. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tries to ensure that they can live mostly independent lives and take advantage of public accommodations offered to sighted people. But the complaint for this class action alleges that Coinbase, Inc. violates the ADA in maintaining a website that presents visually-impaired peoplee with barriers to use.
The class for this action is all legally-blind individuals in the US who have tried to use Coinbase’s website but have been denied access to the equal enjoyment of its goods and services, during the relevant statutory period.
The Internet is now a necessary part of people’s lives, offering information, goods and services, banking, job listings, and much more. It’s particularly important those who have limited mobility and can’t drive themselves to physical locations.
The visually-impaired now have screen readers that allow them to use the Internet, through vocalizing what’s on the screen or through refreshable Braille displays. However, the websites must be set up correctly to allow the use of screen readers. For example, all visual elements must have alternative text, and the website’s functions must be usable through keyboard comm.ands.
Companies and organizations don’t need to figure out these things for themselves. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international standards organization, has put out version 2.0 of its Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines detail ways to make websites accessible to blind and visually-impaired people. They are followed now by most large businesses and government agencies.
However, some businesses do not bother to use them. Coinbase markets and sells digital currency. Its website allows prospective buyers to browse and buy digital currency offered for trade or sale, information on market trends and analysis, and related goods and services.
The complaint alleges that Coinbase’s website is not accessible and cannot be used with screen readers.
The complaint claims that Coinbase has the following barriers:
- It lacks alternative text which would allow screen readers to “read” the graphics and images.
- It has empty links that don’t contain text.
- It has redundant links that go to the same URL address, which requires additional navigation and keyboard repetition.
- It has linked images that do not have alternative text.
The complaint claims that these barriers violate the ADA and New York’s Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Law. It asks the court to require that Coinbase retain a qualified consultant to help apply the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to its website.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Civil Rights
Most Recent Case Event
Coinbase Website Barriers to Access by Blind ADA Complaint
November 21, 2018
A 2010 Census Bureau report says that there are roughly 8.1 million visually-impaired people in the US, including 2.0 million who are legally blind. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tries to ensure that they can live mostly independent lives and take advantage of public accommodations offered to sighted people. But the complaint for this class action alleges that Coinbase, Inc. violates the ADA in maintaining a website that presents visually-impaired peoplee with barriers to use.
coinbase_ada_complaint.pdfCase Event History
Coinbase Website Barriers to Access by Blind ADA Complaint
November 21, 2018
A 2010 Census Bureau report says that there are roughly 8.1 million visually-impaired people in the US, including 2.0 million who are legally blind. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tries to ensure that they can live mostly independent lives and take advantage of public accommodations offered to sighted people. But the complaint for this class action alleges that Coinbase, Inc. violates the ADA in maintaining a website that presents visually-impaired peoplee with barriers to use.
coinbase_ada_complaint.pdf