News

Blind can't access Domino's online, court rules that has to change

January 17, 2019

The world's largest pizza chain is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act because its website cannot be read by screen-reading software for the blind and visually impaired. That was the ruling of a U.S. Ninth Circuit three-judge from the District of Arizona this week, according to Courthouse News.

The judges said that since Domino's website and mobile app are needed to order and locate the brand's stores, those interfaces must be made accessible to those with sight disabilities. 

The federal suit was filed by a blind man, Guillermo Robles, more than two years ago. He said when he tried to order a customized pizza  from Domino's online, his screen-reading software was unable to vocalize the content on the site. Robles said that not only prevented him from ordering online, but made online deals inaccessible, too, in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. He told the court the company should be ordered to make its online content compatible with private industry standards  known as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Originally, Robles' claim was dismissed by a federal judge in Pasadena, California, who said those guidelines could be applied, but not made the subject of a lawsuit, since the U.S. Department of Justice has not handed down any official accessibility standards. 

The three Arizona judges disagreed, finding that if the company was found liable, that would not violate Domino's due process rights since the ADA has been law for 29 years ago, so Domino's knew it had to make its online interfaces accessible. The court said that is especially the case since the DOJ extended ADA protections to websites in 1996. 

As a result, the case goes back to district court for a decision on whether the company's online tools must comply with ADA. This website has not yet received a response from Domino's regarding the case.