QOTD: accessible

question of the day: A blind UC Berkeley student is suing Target Corp., saying the retailer is violating the civil rights of those who cannot see because its Web site is inaccessible to them. – What is your reaction?
link to article

he probably discovered a loophole like site not being section 502 compliant under the federal regulations or something and decided to seize the litigious opportunity

i hate people that sue major companies for bullsh!t. Aren't ALL websites inaccessible??? Companies do not have an obligation to cater to every disability when it comes to customer service. They already do at the employment level! I think it's outrageous. Look, I'm all for doing what you can, but suing them???!!!

xxxx:I don't see the point
me: what do you mean?
xxxx: get it "see"

i don't know if they can really win that law suit. i'm not a lawyer (obviously, cause i work here), but its not something most websites do at this point. i think it would be wise from a business standpoint to make sure you have the widest reach possible (specially if you a majority of your sales are coming via the internet) - but not neccessary.

No lawsuit should be filed. It is Target who is losing out on business if a blind person can not use their site. There are bigger problems in this country (and world) than a web site that does not cater to the blind. What's next, a lawsuit against Playboy because of the same thing?

That's just ridiculous. Would Target have someone walk around the store with the student describing every item? I don't think so.

ugh, can't insert the pictures for my answer... they are here: link to answer

he's pretty smart. i think it's a valid point

I say screw the blind. Like they'd know what they bought anyway. Even if the software was present to tell them that it was a red sweater, they don't even know what red is. Would they even know it was red when it arrived? "Waaa, waaa, my civil rights are being violated." Bunch of babies.

you have got to be kidding me. i'd take a gun and shot him in the head - hey, at least he won't see it coming

Uh...if you're blind does it really matter if you can get to a site or not? Can you really see the difference between the Black dressers on sale vs. the Brown one? What's next....gonna sue GM when they crash their car trying to access a drive through at McDonalds and read the brail menu? I had a couple of blind sheep try and sue me once over the fact they couldn't access the main grazing field because of steep inclines that would have killed them. We settled the case and I'm happy to report we reached an agreement where the finest grass could be brought to them (although a few didn't like this policy and tried to walk down the incline....may they rest in peace)

while it may be true that for the law to actually apply, you have have dealings with the government, its no excuse for taking shortcuts in the code and using substandard practices. its like not putting up a wheelchair ramp because "not many people use wheelchairs anyway."

Hmm... I think he has somewhat of a valid point... consumer facing website have an obligation to be accessible to "all" consumers.

There is no law stating Target's site has to be usable by the blind. I find it odd that Wal-Mart doesn't have a pending lawsuit as well. Their site has two different entrances-- one for whites and one for 'coloreds'.

ADA is a good law. Accessibility should be built in right away into media as opposed to an after thought. Equality for humans in all dimensions. Not just Men-Women. Either deal with less-complete or handicapped people the Hitler way or consider them an equal human. Since no one wants to admit to the Adolf way, we should provide them all we can to not make them feel special.
That said, private companies are out there to make money by catering to a specific market. Only the government and its agencies are not catering to a specific market. So the government & its agencies should comply with ADA. I think instead of suing the company, the person to enter a public-interest_litigation kind of lawsuit and to force Target or any other company to comply. It’s like suing the USAF for not taking a blind man to pilot the stealth-bomber.
This whole suing thing is silly and ends up costing us. Soon you will see a line item on your telephone bill.
BPAPB Charge:$0.73
(BPAPB: A palindrome expanded to Blind People Accessible Phone Book)