ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuit: a dental office website

ANDRES GOMEZ has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on August 29, 2022, alleging that a dental office's website is inaccessible to blind and visually impaired consumers. The plaintiff claims that the website, which serves as an extension of the defendant's physical brick-and-mortar dental office, violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide equal access to its services and information.

The complaint specifically alleges several WCAG violations, including the lack of text equivalents for non-text elements, failure to convey meaning and structure beyond visual presentation, an incorrect reading sequence when content order affects meaning, the absence of page titles describing topic or purpose, images lacking screen reader explanations, and the absence of an accessibility policy statement on the website. These barriers purportedly prevent blind users from independently accessing vital information such as office locations, hours, and appointment requests.

This action highlights the ongoing legal risk for online businesses, particularly those with a physical nexus, to ensure their digital platforms are accessible to individuals with disabilities, or face similar injunctive relief mandates under ADA Title III. Businesses in related industries should review their digital accessibility to avoid potential litigation and ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards.