A visually impaired individual has taken legal action against a company for failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually impaired users. Howard Wilson filed a class-action complaint on December 2, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Apollo Tools, Ltd., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Howard Wilson, who is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to access online content, accuses Apollo Tools of not designing and maintaining its website in a manner that is accessible to individuals with visual impairments. According to Wilson, the website contains numerous barriers that prevent him from accessing goods and services available to sighted users. These barriers include missing alt-text for images, broken links, unannounced pop-ups, and other issues that impede navigation using screen readers.
Wilson's complaint highlights that approximately 8.1 million people in the United States are visually impaired, including 2 million who are blind. He argues that Apollo Tools' failure to accommodate these individuals violates their rights under the ADA, which mandates equal access to public accommodations.
The plaintiff attempted multiple times to purchase a household tool kit from Apollo Tools' website but was unable due to these accessibility barriers. He asserts that this denial of access is discriminatory and seeks a permanent injunction requiring Apollo Tools to make its website compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines are internationally recognized standards for making web content accessible to people with disabilities.
Wilson's lawsuit seeks not only injunctive relief but also nominal damages and coverage of legal costs. The case calls for Apollo Tools to implement policies ensuring ongoing compliance with accessibility standards through regular testing and user feedback.
Representing Howard Wilson is attorney Yaakov Saks from Stein Saks, PLLC. The case is presided over by judges at the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:24-cv-12386.