Funimation, one of the largest anime streaming websites in the world, is facing a lawsuit. The plaintiff is a legally blind woman who accuses Funimation’s website of being discriminative towards people with disabilities.
Will Funimation take this lawsuit as an indicator of their lacking website and take measures to make it better?
The lawsuit against Funimation was brought in by Jenisa Angeles, a legally blind citizen of America, on 13th January. According to the complaint, Funimation is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The alleged website is “shop.funimation.com,” and it was accused of not being inclusive towards visually impaired people.
The website sells anime merchandise and related products, and several complaints have been brought up against it.
Due to Angeles’s visual impairment, she uses screen-reading software to help her across the internet.
She has reportedly visited “shop.funimation.com” multiple times for making a purchase, but the features of the website hindered her from using it. She was not able to figure out which products were on sale.
The complaints issued by the plaintiff include:
- Some features on the website lack alt. text.
- A label element or a title attribute have not been added for fields.
- Many pages contain title elements.
- The website contains links that do not work.
The specified website thus violates the ADA and NYCHRIL. According to the lawsuit, Funimation has “engaged in acts of intentional discrimination.”
Angeles seeks that the defendant does not violate the ADA. She proposes the defendant
“take all the steps necessary to make its website into full compliance with the requirements outlined in the ADA, and its implementing regulations, so that the website is readily accessible to and usable by blind individuals.”
Jenisa Angeles
She has also proposed a fine to be paid to the class and sub-classes whose rights have been violated by the website. Angeles also seeks compensatory damages and covering of attorney and expert fees. A trial by jury is also requested.
Source: Accessibility
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