In a landmark case highlighting the digital divide faced by visually impaired individuals, a class action lawsuit has been filed against a prominent grooming products company for allegedly failing to make its website accessible. The complaint was lodged by Haron Cole on February 28, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, targeting 18.21 Man Made, LLC.
Haron Cole, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate online content, accuses 18.21 Man Made of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not ensuring their website is accessible to visually impaired users. The lawsuit claims that the company's website, 1821manmade.com, contains numerous barriers that prevent blind and visually-impaired customers from accessing goods and services available to sighted customers. According to Cole's complaint, these barriers include missing alternative text for images, improperly labeled interactive elements, and reliance on mouse navigation which is not feasible for blind users. "Defendant’s denial of full and equal access to its website," states the complaint, "is a violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the ADA."
The lawsuit details how these accessibility issues hindered Cole's attempt to purchase a men's shower bundle from the site. Despite his efforts using screen-reading technology like JAWS (Job Access With Speech), he encountered significant challenges such as ambiguous link texts and drop-down menus that were not properly announced or navigable via keyboard commands. This lack of accessibility not only barred him from completing his purchase but also exemplified broader systemic issues affecting millions of visually impaired individuals nationwide.
Cole seeks a permanent injunction requiring 18.21 Man Made to implement changes making their website fully accessible in compliance with ADA standards. The lawsuit demands compensatory damages for unlawful discrimination experienced by Cole and other class members similarly affected by these accessibility barriers. Furthermore, it calls for punitive damages and coverage of legal costs incurred during this litigation process.
Representing Haron Cole in this pivotal case is attorney David B. Reyes from Equal Access Law Group PLLC. The case is presided over by judges in the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:25-cv-2091.