A visually-impaired woman has taken legal action against a major footwear company, accusing it of failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals. Leah Walker filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 6, 2025, targeting Drew Ventures, Inc., the company behind Drewshoe.com.
Leah Walker, who requires screen-reading software to navigate online content due to her visual impairment, claims that Drew Ventures' website is not designed to be accessible for people like her. According to Walker's lawsuit, the website lacks features such as alternative text for images and keyboard navigability that are essential for screen-reader compatibility. This oversight allegedly violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates equal access to public accommodations for individuals with disabilities. The complaint highlights that approximately 8.1 million people in the U.S. are visually impaired, with about 400,000 residing in Illinois alone.
Walker asserts that she attempted to purchase sneakers from Drewshoe.com but was thwarted by numerous accessibility barriers. These included unclear labels on interactive elements and ambiguous link texts that made navigation challenging without sighted assistance. "Blind persons must rely on sighted companions," Walker stated in her complaint, emphasizing how this dependency strips away independence and equality promised under federal law.
The plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction compelling Drew Ventures to overhaul its web practices to ensure accessibility compliance with ADA standards. She also demands compensatory damages for what she describes as "unlawful discrimination" experienced by herself and other similarly affected class members. Walker's lawsuit further accuses Drew Ventures of negligent infliction of emotional distress due to their failure in maintaining an accessible digital platform.
Representing Leah Walker is attorney David Reyes from Asher Cohen Law PLLC based in Brooklyn, New York. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:25-cv-86 at the Northern District of Illinois court.