A visually-impaired individual has taken legal action against a company for failing to make its website accessible, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by disabled individuals in accessing online services. Andre Battle filed a class-action complaint on February 13, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Heys America, Ltd., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Andre Battle, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate digital content, accuses Heys America of not designing its website to be accessible to visually impaired users. The lawsuit claims that Heys America's website contains significant access barriers that prevent blind and visually impaired customers from completing transactions independently. "The access barriers make it impossible for blind and visually-impaired users to even complete a transaction on the website," states the complaint.
Battle's lawsuit points out that approximately 8.1 million people in the United States are visually impaired, including 2 million who are blind. In Illinois alone, around 400,000 individuals face visual impairments. Despite this substantial demographic, Heys America allegedly continues to operate an inaccessible website, denying equal access to its products and services offered through https://us.heys.com.
The plaintiff highlights several specific issues encountered while attempting to use the site with screen-reading software like JAWS. These include inaccurate landmark structures, ambiguous link texts, missing alternative text for images, and interactive elements that require mouse usage rather than keyboard navigation—essentially rendering the site unusable for those relying solely on non-visual means.
Battle seeks a permanent injunction mandating changes in Heys America's policies and practices to ensure their website becomes fully accessible. Additionally, he demands compensatory damages for himself and other class members who have faced discrimination due to these accessibility barriers.
Represented by attorney Uri Horowitz from Flushing, NY, Battle aims not only for personal relief but also broader systemic change through this legal action. He emphasizes that making websites accessible is neither technologically difficult nor financially burdensome; many large businesses already adhere to established guidelines like WCAG 2.2 or Section 508 standards under federal law.
This case underscores ongoing issues surrounding digital accessibility as more aspects of daily life move online—a trend accelerated by recent technological advances yet still lagging behind when it comes to inclusivity measures required under both state and federal laws such as ADA Title III provisions regarding public accommodations' obligations towards disabled individuals' rights within digital spaces they control or operate.
The Case ID is: 125cv1529.