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ARTICLE · 09 AUGUST 2016

Higher Ed Faces ADA Challenges Over Accessibility Of University Websites

Thompson Coburn LLP
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Websites are vitally important to institutions of higher education for a variety of reasons. They serve as a real-time brochure for prospective students, provide important academic and administrative resources...

United StatesConsumer Protection
Mark Sableman
Mark Sableman
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Websites are vitally important to institutions of higher education for a variety of reasons. They serve as a real-time brochure for prospective students, provide important academic and administrative resources to students and faculty, and share a university's news, events, and research with a worldwide community. But if those websites are only geared toward sighted readers, institutions could face legal challenges under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In recent years class action lawyers have targeted a variety of businesses and nonprofits — including colleges and universities — over what they claim are illegal practices in regard to website design and operation. These attorneys have lodged claims against standard websites that they claim violate the ADA or a New Jersey consumer protection statute.

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