Judge rules supermarket chain must make web site accessible
Website accessibility is shaping up as the next big challenge for retailers with regards to ADA compliance.
A Miami federal judge has ruled that Winn-Dixie violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not making its website, which was recently updated, accessible to blind and visually impaired users, the Miami Herald reported. The Jacksonville, Florida-based supermarket chain has set aside $250,000 to revamp its online site and was ordered to pay the plaintiff’s legal fees, according to the report.
The case was brought by a Miami resident who is legally blind and uses screen-reading software to access the internet. The software has allowed him to use 500 to 600 websites, including Publix, Walgreens and government sites, the report said. But the software could not read information on Winn-Dixie's site when he tried to order a prescription and look up store hours.
“We understand Winn-Dixie plans to appeal,” Scott Dinin, an attorney for the plaintiff, told the Miami Herald. “We welcome the opportunity to bring this issue to the public light, and show how important it is to see accessibility and diversity at the center of every decision making process.” Dinin said he plans to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
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