Say what?

[Bungleau]

From Yahoo news...

Judge allows class action against Target Web site NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge in California certified a class action lawsuit against Target Corp brought by plaintiffs claiming the discount retailer's Web site is inaccessible to the blind, according to court documents. Judge Marilyn Patel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California also rejected Target's motion for summary judgment in the case, according to the ruling filed October 2. According to the ruling, plaintiffs -- including the National Federation of the Blind -- claim Target.com violates federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against the disabled. "This is a tremendous step forward for blind people throughout the country who for too long have been denied equal access to the Internet economy," Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation for the Blind, said in a statement. "All e-commerce businesses should take note of this decision and immediately take steps to open their doors to the blind," Maurer said. "Target is committed to serving all of our guests and we believe that our Web site is fully accessible and complies with all applicable laws," Bloomberg quoted Target spokeswoman Carolyn Brookter as saying in an e-mailed statement. Target was not immediately available for comment to Reuters.

Okay... I'm really struggling here. Not because I'm in favor of discriminating against the blind, let alone anyone... but because I'm having a hard time figuring out how to take a visual environment (aka the web) and *NOT* have it be a challenge for those without visual abilities!

There must be something more to it... but the fact that the suit originates in California is telling in some ways.
Perhaps this ought to be over in current events, so if it moves there, fine with me.

[Ladyzekke]

Yeah I don't know how a blind person can see a computer monitor or ANY websites...? Maybe they want sound effects with someone talking about all the items sold at Target and that would work? Of course nobody else has sound effects either (Bestbuy, etc.) soo...Beats me!

[Iron Greasel]

I thought blind people use voice synthesis that reads everything out loud. Maybe Target was incompatible? Lot of images?

I hope Target wins.

[Kakero]

The judge might as well allow class action lawsuits against websites all over the internet for discriminating against the blind.

[andrewas]

Blind people can use voice synthesis or braille terminals .. and both of them depend on the web site offering sufficient text. All those adverts with the text embedded in the image? Worthless. But even there, you can set the alternative field and that can be spoken, or rendered in braille. Good rule of thumb is to fire up the site in Lynx, if you cant navigate it in that browser, no blind people will be able to.