What is happening with Domino’s?
- The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Domino’s Pizza after a federal court ruled a blind person can sue under the ADA after he couldn’t fully use Domino’s website through screen reading software according to Fast Company.
- Domino’s main argument was that the ADA does not apply to websites and apps because the law was written before these things existed in 1990.
- However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said that since Domino’s is a place of public accommodations, they are required by law to provide accessibility through “auxiliary aids and services” and that includes the website and app.
- Domino’s response to this decision was: “Although Domino’s is disappointed that the Supreme Court will not review this case, we look forward to presenting our case at the trial court,” a spokesperson said. “We also remain steadfast in our belief in the need for federal standards for everyone to follow in making their websites and mobile apps accessible.”
What does this mean for you?
ADA compliance and accessibility have long been a confusing issue for businesses when it comes to the digital world. The ADA went into effect almost 30 years ago. Therefore it’s understandable no one back then could have predicted the online world we live in today. That being said, just because these technologies were not present during the law’s inception, it doesn’t mean we don’t need to update them to keep up with the times.
The American Disabilities Act strives to remove the barriers encountered by people with disabilities as they live their lives. We are using the internet for more and more things every day. We use it for work, banking, socialization, shopping and more. It has become obvious that it is very important websites are accessible for everyone.
If inclusivity isn’t enough of a reason for you to evaluate your website for ADA compliance maybe the outcome of this Domino’s case will be. According to UseableNet over 2,200 website accessibility lawsuits have been filed under the ADA in 2018. That number is up 181% from 2017. With the precedent that Domino’s set we don’t have any reason to believe this trend will decrease. Now is the time to evaluate your website so you don’t find yourself in this situation.
What You Can Do to Make Sure Your Website is ADA Compliant
There are multiple online tools that you can use to scan your website and check if it is accessible. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is also a great resource. Last but certainly not least you could send it to us! Our team at Sierra Experts would be happy to take a look at your website. We will review if it is meeting accessibility guidelines and help you fix it if it’s not. For more information send us an email at sales@sierr001-2.sierradevops.com. Visit our website or give us a call at 412.722.0707.
