Comments on: Target.com May Be Deemed “Not Accessible.” Ramifications?

By: Kristina Leist

Kristina Leist — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:31:32 +0000

In my opinion, Target, like many other giant retailers, charge different prices in store vs. internet… that to me makes not making the site accessible to the disabled a discrimination automatically. Plus, a whole host of other issues I won’t get into. This is certainly a topic to be discussed as exactly what a company must do to the website to make it accessible? What types of technology are out there for people who are both blind and deaf? Having built a website I can tell you how crazy it can get to try and make your website accessible to everyone. I think there needs to be more discussion about exactly what accessible means. Does it mean that it is easy for them to listen to or does it mean that simply they can listen to the site and access an order form and/or call for an order?

By: Sanders

Sanders — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 06:23:00 +0000

I love to shop at Target. I bought a dress from it through CouponAlbum site (http://www.couponalbum.com) and got $20 saving with coupon.

By: Andrea Gallagher

Andrea Gallagher — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:37:22 +0000

What’s tough is that each of those venues supports people with different dissabilities well.

While a store may be better suited to those who are blind (where they can try on for fit and comfort), the website is more helpful for the deaf (who can communicate via email or chat with customer service) and the wheelchair-bound (who can navigate their options faster and more easily).

It’s really the proliferation of options (channels) that’s going to make the customer experience better for the full range of the disabled population.

But that’s a subtlety the law will have problems coping with. Ah well.

By: Mary Kay Lofurno

Mary Kay Lofurno — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:04:34 +0000

I too do not understand why there is not more noise about this… The implications here are tremendous!!!!

And could be an impetus for another paradigm shift regarding the web.

By: Derek Featherstone

Derek Featherstone — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:42:42 +0000

Derek Taylor writes:

I can understand why government sites should be accessible to the blind and otherwise handicapped, but where does this end? Should we now be concerned that Spanish speakers are discriminated against because a site is written in English? Can a mac user sue if a site only works in IE?

The language issue is a difficult one - however - the Spanish speaking individual would have difficulty with all English based sites, not just one specific one based on the way it was coded.

The Mac user is much clearer - people make a choice choice to use a Mac. People do not make a choice to be blind.

So, no - I can’t think of any reason a Mac user would have any right to sue (though you never know, right? ). Someone that is blind though certainly has more legal grounds to prosecute to the fullest extent they are capable.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:09:05 +0000

And what are the last three words at the bottom of every Target.com page?

“Powered by Amazon.com”

Shh. Don’t tell the lawyers….

By: Derek Taylor

Derek Taylor — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:41:55 +0000

I can understand why government sites should be accessible to the blind and otherwise handicapped, but where does this end? Should we now be concerned that Spanish speakers are discriminated against because a site is written in English? Can a mac user sue if a site only works in IE? Point is, the marketplace eventually reacts to real needs and practically speaking, cannot adjust to every nuance among its visitor/customer base - however unsympathetic that may sound.