A visually-impaired woman has filed a lawsuit against a prominent online shoe retailer, alleging that the company's website is inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals. The complaint was lodged by Constance Henry in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 10, 2025, targeting Shoe Dynasty Holdings, LLC, which operates under the brand name Miz Mooz.
Constance Henry, who requires screen-reading software to navigate websites due to her visual impairment, claims that Shoe Dynasty Holdings has failed to make its website accessible to those with similar disabilities. According to the complaint, this oversight constitutes a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates equal access to public accommodations for individuals with disabilities. The lawsuit highlights several barriers on Miz-mooz.com that prevent blind users from independently browsing and making purchases. These include missing alternative text for images, inaccessible forms, and navigation issues that require mouse usage—a tool not usable by many visually-impaired individuals.
Henry recounts her personal experience attempting to purchase shoes from Miz-mooz.com but facing numerous accessibility challenges. She found herself unable to complete a transaction due to confusing navigation and lack of descriptive text alternatives on product images. "Plaintiff was denied a shopping experience like that of a sighted individual," states the complaint. It further argues that despite existing technologies and guidelines—such as those provided by the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—the defendant has chosen not to implement necessary modifications.
The plaintiff seeks both injunctive relief and compensatory damages. Specifically, she requests a court order mandating Shoe Dynasty Holdings to update its website policies and practices to ensure full accessibility for blind consumers. Additionally, Henry is pursuing compensatory damages for what she describes as unlawful discrimination experienced by herself and other similarly affected individuals.
Representing Constance Henry in this legal battle is attorney David Reyes from Asher Cohen Law PLLC. The case is being presided over in the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:25-cv-281.