NRF Says It Hopes Online Accessibility Act Will End ‘Frivolous Lawsuits’

The National Retail Federation hailed House introduction of the Online Accessibility Act to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act to include commercially owned, consumer-facing websites and mobile apps, making them more accessible to the visually impaired. The bill, introduced Thursday by Reps. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Lou Correa, D-Calif., would establish standards for defining which websites and apps are ADA-compliant, directing DOJ to issue rules spelling out the definitions. “Retailers want to serve all customers, and that includes those who are blind or visually impaired,” said NRF Friday. “This bill makes it clear that the ADA applies to websites and requires that businesses make their websites accessible, but it also sets clear rules on what that means. This should put an end to frivolous lawsuits that have diverted resources that could be better used to make sure online products and services are easily available to everyone.” A federal judge in May ordered consolidation of nearly two dozen complaints from advocates for the blind against Onkyo, Sound United, Vizio and other consumer product companies, alleging the companies failed to make their e-commerce sites accessible to the visually impaired, in violation of the ADA (see 2005140002).