In a significant legal move, a visually-impaired individual has filed a class action lawsuit against a men's grooming product company for failing to make its website accessible to the blind. Haron Cole, who is legally blind, lodged the complaint on February 28, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against 18.21 Man Made, LLC. The lawsuit alleges that the company's website violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not being fully accessible to individuals who rely on screen-reading software.
Haron Cole's lawsuit claims that 18.21 Man Made's website, 1821manmade.com, is rife with accessibility barriers that prevent blind and visually-impaired individuals from independently navigating and making purchases online. According to Cole, these barriers include missing alternative text for images, improper heading structures, and interactive elements that are not compatible with keyboard navigation—an essential feature for screen-reader users. "The lack of an accessible website means that blind people are excluded from experiencing transacting with Defendant’s website," states the complaint. The plaintiff emphasizes that this exclusion denies them equal participation in the digital marketplace.
Cole's experience highlights specific instances where he was unable to complete an online purchase due to these accessibility issues. On February 25, 2025, he attempted to buy a men's shower bundle but was thwarted by automatic pop-up windows and poorly labeled interactive elements on the site. The lawsuit argues that despite readily available technology solutions used by other retailers to ensure web accessibility—such as alternative text and keyboard navigability—18.21 Man Made has failed to implement these measures.
The plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction requiring 18.21 Man Made to modify its website policies and practices so it becomes fully accessible to blind consumers. Additionally, Cole demands compensatory damages for unlawful discrimination under both state and federal law. The case underscores broader implications for businesses operating online; it points out that without compliance with established web accessibility guidelines like WCAG 2.2 or Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, companies risk alienating a significant portion of potential customers.
Representing Haron Cole is attorney David B. Reyes from Equal Access Law Group PLLC based in Flushing, New York. The case is being presided over in the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:25-cv-2091.