Topic: Ruling on Accessibility Lawsuit (Page 1 of 1)

I'm sure everyone saw this coming:

Accessibility Lawsuit Hits Target

Judge: Lawsuit against Target can move ahead

Judge Rules Sites Can Be Sued Over Design

I would think businesses would want to make their products and services available to as many people as possible and would take steps to ensure that they are. I find it kinda disheartening that Target had to be made to comply with what I see as a very minor request by potential customers.

Now that there has been a ruling do you think that there will be heaps more suits to follow or will the ADA law be amended to include web sites, as to avoid a rash of suits? Will companies who have Flash sites now have to provide a non-Flash alternative?
Also, while I understand that this only impacts business/company sites at this point, do you think that individual sites, such as blogs, will be targeted (no pun intended) in the future?

I doubt it would ever trickle down to 'individual' sites as in your homepage but it would seem any Ecommerce site would be fair game and I imagine that would include gov't sites...which leads me to believe exemption legislation is already being drafted.

Would be nice tho' if a 'biggy' did get smacked as I think it would do a whole lot further standards...but can you really see a site like Ebay or craiglist making the mark??? I don't think so. =)

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The goal in Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "holy moly what a ride!"

been wondering if I was ever gonna hear anything on this ruling, takes a while I guess. Thanks cuna

I don't think there would be any legal grounds for forcing personal websites to comply with accessibility laws. Individuals are not corporations and blogs are not businesses. To use a brick-and-mortar analogy, it would be kind of like forcing every homeowner in the country to install wheelchair ramps leading up to their front door. Or outlawing smoking in private homes.


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Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

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Or outlawing smoking in private homes.

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This may be closer than you think...especially if you have children. Don't have sources handy but I do recall some recent 2nd hand smoke studies that have 'some' suggesting that exposing your children to 2nd hand smoke, even in your own home, could well be considered abuse /endangerment and if appropriate legislation is passed or current legislation is enforced... parents could well find themselves in trouble.

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The goal in Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "holy moly what a ride!"

That has got to be one of the dumbest things I have heard in a long time.

Jason

The web accessibility laws I know of have been crafted for governmental sites in the firts place. How they can apply to commercial sites depends on a country basis but it makes as much sense has other accessiblity laws meant to ensure that disabled persons are not left aside.

IMHO, having an inaccessible web is only possible with a combination of will and incompetence. It doesn't take much more time/money to have an accessible web site.

As for smoking inside, in Norway, all apartments ( I've seen at least ) have smoke detectors and extinguisher (?). It's forbiden to smoke in public buildings. I don't know if there is a law specifically forbiding to smoke in private house but technically you have to smoke at the window/balcony/front door ... or to disable the smoke detector but then cross your finger for nothing bad happen because your insurance will certainly say you to f**k off.

Remind me in a week (when I can comment) about how accessibility came up in my lawsuit.

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NoJive said:
This may be closer than you think...especially if you have children. Don't have sources handy but I do recall some recent 2nd hand smoke studies that have 'some' suggesting that exposing your children to 2nd hand smoke, even in your own home, could well be considered abuse /endangerment and if appropriate legislation is passed or current legislation is enforced... parents could well find themselves in trouble.

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I see where you're coming from, but I think a lot would have to happen before such a law could be passed. If you think about all the things that parents do to kids that could be considered abuse... can you imagine trying to outlaw everything? What you would end up with would be the government trying to raise everyone's kids. And then there's the issue of enforcement. It's very iffy territory.

Personally, I think responsible parents will avoid smoking in the house. The problem is that there are a lot of irresponsible people out there. But just as it is difficult to legislate morality (although they certainly do try), it is also very difficult to legislate responsibility.

poi: Interesting info about Norway. It woul be interesting to know if there is actually a law mandating such behavior or if it is for insurance purposes.

But I digress. Back to accessibility.


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Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

^ I agree that enforcement is pretty iffy territory but the first step in the door of your house is to catch you smoking in your car with your child all safely buckled in... and that really is a whole lot closer than one might believe.

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One day after the U.S. Surgeon General released the most damning study yet on secondhand smoke, a state Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow police to stop drivers guilty of puffing in the confines of their car when a child passenger is secured in a safety seat.

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http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/14928124.htm

"But I digress. Back to accessibility." =)

___________________________________________________________________________
The goal in Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "holy moly what a ride!"