A visually-impaired individual has taken legal action against a major online retailer, alleging discrimination due to the inaccessibility of its website. Haron Cole filed a class-action complaint on January 17, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Voler, Inc., claiming that the company's website is not accessible to blind and visually-impaired users, thus violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Haron Cole, who is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to navigate websites, asserts that Voler’s website, Store.voler.com, contains significant access barriers that prevent him and others with similar disabilities from enjoying equal access to the goods and services offered by Voler. According to Cole's complaint, these barriers include missing alternative text for images, inaccessible forms and menus, and a reliance on mouse navigation which cannot be used by those who are visually impaired. "The lack of an accessible website means that blind people are excluded from experiencing transacting with Defendant’s website," states the complaint.
Cole attempted to purchase a jacket from Store.voler.com but was unable to complete his transaction due to these accessibility issues. The lawsuit argues that despite readily available technology that could make websites accessible—such as alternative text and keyboard-navigable content—Voler has failed to implement these features. This failure is seen as a violation of both federal law under the ADA and state laws designed to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities.
The plaintiff seeks several remedies from the court: a permanent injunction requiring Voler to modify its website so it becomes fully accessible; compensatory damages for unlawful discrimination experienced by class members; nominal damages; punitive damages; as well as costs associated with bringing this lawsuit. Cole emphasizes that without judicial intervention, he will continue facing barriers preventing him from independently shopping online at Voler's store.
Representing Haron Cole is attorney David Reyes from Asher Cohen Law PLLC. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:25-cv-569 in front of judges at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.